The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-10-05
BY JAMES THRAsHER
NEA star CORRESPONDENT

u
Tourists have been saying FOL
years that New York Is a wonderful
place to visit but they'd hate to live
there. Maybe they said II about
Washington, too, before the war. But
no transient caller in our nations
capital has delivered himself Of any
such observation since then. In fact
few Of them have probably said
anything printable in a family news
paper, what with the crowded trains
hotels, restaurants, theaters, buses
and whatever else Is likely to at
tract more than two people at one
time.
And when an out-of- towner's visit
involves business with the War Pro-
duction Board, his feelings are apt
to take on q violent tinge. BY the
time he has been through the In
volved process Of getting to see his
man and getting out. again, the
average visitor Is more than ready
to flee the town forever and let
WPB do with him as 1t will.
Visitors find that any WPB EN-
ploye, however humble his posltioHi,
Is slightly less accessible than the
Grand Lama OF Tibet. But II they
think that the time and red tape In
volved in getting to him Is the
result Of ineflciency and lack Of
system, they're wrong.
It's all planned. And II may cheer
the visitor who has been through
the mill to discover that the recep-
ZIONIST who kept him from his quarry
may have been quite as confused
and frustrated as the visitor him
self.
BOOKLET EXPLAINS ALL
This heartening conclusion Is the
result Of reading q WpB booklet
titled Regulations Governing En-
trance TO Offlces Of the Board" In
II pages of fine type It sets forth
the front-door ceremonies involving
the leisurely welcome Of everybody
from cabinet member to o West
ern Union messenger onto the
premises.
All the rules are different and
none Of them is easy. Employees. de-
liverymen, the press, special visitors
frequent visitors and just plain Wis
itors, all require different tech
nique.
Suppose you are visitor (the one
defined in section 500, not the spe-
cial one referred to in section 10.0l)
II the stern-faced guards at the
entrance don't scare you. out Of the
idea completely, you approach the
receptionists' desk. There are lots Of
receptonists, all doing different Jobs
but somebody will steer you right.
Having aScertained whom you
wish to see, and If you have an APP
pointment, the receptionist viii then
telephone the object Of your quest.
If 1t Is suggested by the employe
that the visitor come to his ONCE, y
says the booklet, "the receptionist
shall I'LL out and initial @ visitors
pass"
And what happens II, after you
have come all the way from Mucko-
gee, the empioye Is feeling out Of
sorts, or just forgets to make that
necessary suggestion? Don't despair.
III q visitor Is unable to secure an
appointment, he will be given an
exit check to permit him to leave
the building"
PATIENCE PLUS PASS
II, however, you do receive O cor
dial invitation, the receptionist
writes down the date, your name
and address, your quarry's name
and room number, and the number
Of the badge, you are going to get,
,, You then sign the pass, and get the
original and the pink copy. Don't
pay an attention to the white and
yellow copies. You also get your
badge-provided your man Is ready
to see you.
OF course, II you try to carry out
anything that you didn't carry In,
or stay more than seven hours, or
don't get your pass signed by the
interviewer or wander In o daze eX-
ceeding 80 minutes that isn't &C.
counted for on your pass, you've got
q lot Of explaining to do with the
gendarmes at the door. And II they
don't like your explanation - well,
even the booklet doesn't say what
AAHPPShS'
II you're going to be In and out
OF a WPB building for several days
you can, with WIPES approval, get q
special visitors pass. This is issued
II the Board thinks its work will be
expedited and benefited by allow
ing the prospective special visitor
access frequently and without I'M
due delay"
But don't think that the avoid
ance Of undue delay" Is the regular
thing, or a contamination devoutly
to be wished. Not at all. A White
House messenger is the only visitor
who the booklet specifics is to be
allowed to proceed without delay"
The rest of you guys can Just take
WPB's own sweet time.
Maybe you should have Just writ
ten letter. after all.