Evening star., 1943-02-18
Wilson Control
Over Materials
May Be Extended
Would Bor Delivery
To Army Navy if
Needed Elsewhere
Continued From First Pacel

"N'i'NA oNIiS tiidIl lllp Army, nc
can order the manufacturer to hold
up the delivery to the Army. the
officials said.
The issuance of the order was re-
earded as the next step in the show
Gown battle between WPB Chair
man Donald NJ. Nelson and the
armed forces for control of the pro-
cuction program.
Nelson Denies He'll Resign.
M. Nelson today was reported
starding firm in the face Of a storm
building up around his agency. he
Issued, through his chief informa-
ton officer, firm denial of reports
that he was thinking of quitting his
post. Such reports we're termed
completely without foundation"
But it was indicated in other
quarters that the inter agency fight
would continue.
Undersecretary OF War Patterson
and Undersecretary of Navy For
restal, who have opposed efforts of
Mr.. Nelson to increase WPB powers.
were understood to have conferred
yesterday. It was said that they
had agreed to fight Mr.. Nelson to
the bitter end on the issue.
One official said Mr.. Patterson and
Mr.. Forrestal had agreed that the
town wasn't big enough for them
and for Mr., Nelson and Mr.. Wilson" q"
Battle Comes Out in Open.
The battle between the production
officials came out into the open
earlier this week when Mr.. Nelson
demanded the resignation of Ferdi-
1and E. Eberstadt, vice chairman of
the WPB and generally regarded as
the Army-Navy advocate in the
WPB. MI. Eberstadt was close to
Mr.. Forrestal and Mr.. Patterson.
The Army and Navy have been
consulted on the scheduling order
which Mr.. Wilson has prepared. il
was said. They do not approve of
the Wilson plan, according to one
high official.
Mr.. Wilson's order was looked on
es giving him power to cut across
all priorities and to set aside sched-
ules which have been established in
contracts negotiated with manufac-
turers by the Army, Navy or other
agencies.
May Issue Order This Week.
A WPB official said the order
would be issued very soon" possibly
even this week. He said that it
would be very interesting order"
The order will not be applied i'm
rlediately to all war industries. It
was understood that at first only the
manufacturers of few of the most
critically needed items would be re-
quired to submit schedules of ap-
provaL
But the order will outline the plan
whereby, step by step, all the manu-
facturers Of critically needed COM
ponents-valves, engine parts and
other items which are scarce and
which are needed by all the claimant
agencieS-Will come under this
scheduling plan.
to fill out three new forms, it was
understood These forms will show
the number of orders they have re-
Ceived, those on hand and those to |
be delivered during the next month. |
Must List Production Capacity.
The forms also will require the !
manufacturer to outline production |
capacity for the coming year. /
Another very detailed form will ask
for complete information about the
agencies TO which all pending orders /
are to be delivered.
Mr.. Wilson, in assuming power |
over scheduling the time of delivery
Of critically needed items, was said
to be prepared to shift contracts
from one plant to another
For example, if a manufacturer
is now idling along in preparation
for delivery of a large order for the
Army later in the year, Mr.. Wilson
would move some contracts from a
busy plant into the idle plant in
order to get immediate delivery.
When questioned about their re-
action to the plan, Army and Navy
officials said the services agreed that
"this il a bad time to undertake
such scheduling plan"
This official said the new Wilson
order would dump load of paper
work" on manufacturers and con-
fuse them Just as the controlled
materials plan was getting under
way.
Mr.. Wilson, in a statement yes
terday, said he planned no important
changes in the Controlled Materials
Plan. The GIMP was the brain
child" Of Mr.. Eberstadt.
The Controlled Materials Plan is
e sound plan.for the distribution of
critical materials said MI Wilson.
mo basic changes in this procedure
ere contemplated, although there
may be some minor changes At no
time was the Controlled Materials
Plan a subject Of conflict between
the Army, Navy and WPB."