Evening star., 1943-06-16
crucial part it is taking in the war

crucial part it is taking in the war
effort"
Mr.. Perkins told the committee
that "the plain fact is that Germany
and Japan got long jump on us in
the world economic battle that pre-
ceded the war itself" but said that
through the work of BEW operators,
whom he described as economic
commandos,' this Nation is catching
up.
There is long way to CO." he
added, but the United Nations are
definitely not losing the economic
war. Our economic strength is still
rising while both Germany and
Japan are beginning to show the
first signs of economic strain"
Other High Lights of Report.
Other high lights in the bulky
transcript of testimony included:
Transportation Director Joseph B.
Eastman said that If wartime dis
comforts, plus campaign to induce
people to eliminate unessential
travel, fail to accomplish the de-
sired results. 1--WE may have to dig
down into our basket" for some syS-
tenn of prioritieS.
Rear Admiral Emory S. Land, war
shipping administrator, reported
that the program for building mer-
chant ships. for the fiscal year be-
ginning July l. envisions more than
double the number and the tonnage
of vessels in operation early this
year.
Deputy Petroleum Administrator
Ralph K. Davies asserted that the
critical gasoline shortage on the At
lantic Coast could have been avoid
ed by an earlier ban on pleasure
driving.
DR.. George w. Taylor, vice chair
man of the War Labor Board, de-
clared the WLB intended to stick by
the Little Steel formula Through
thick and thin" despite expected
pressure from workers for wage in
creases when the 20 per cent pay.
as-you-eo withholding tax goes into
effect.
Mr.. Brown expressed belief that
the the principal source of black
market gasoline, in our judgment,
has been the sale of T. cards.
Sometimes, it is more profitable for
a man in the taXicab business to
sell his T card than it is for him to
run his taAicab."
Warns of Air Raids.
NN|
M. Lands said there is considerable
likelihood that the United States
will be subjected to air raids, both
on the Pacific and on the North
eastern coasts.
The greater part of the commit
tees reductions in the Budget
Bureaus allocat tions of funds for the
various war agencies came in re-
quests for new personnel with the
denials amounting to approximately
5,400 man-yearS.
The action came after Represen-
tativeS Taber of New York and
Otter of Pennsylvania. two of the
ranking Republican members, as
sailed in particular the high per-
centage Of former college instruc-
tors and professors as economists
and conSultants on such agencies
as the BEW and the OPA.
These people" protested Mr..
Taber at one point in the OPA
hearings, who seem to be in charge
OF these price set-ups seem to be
practically all professors or long
hairs. There does not seem to be a
single unit which has at the head of
1t anyone who has had practical
experience in the line of business
that is involved
AT another point during the tes-
timony on the BEW Mr.. Otter read
long list of employees whose SAL
aries have been increased substan-
tally since they joined the staff,
and inquired of Mr.. Perkins:
DO you ever try to bargain with
any of these folks to get them anv
cheaper than your general spirit of
generosity apparently prompts you
to pursue?'
so toughly.' responded Mr.. Per-
kins, that I am ashamed of it some
times"
L wish" commented Mr.. Otter.
that We might find some glaring
example of your avarice."