Evening star., 1943-01-26
House toProbe
Jeffers Charqes
In Priority Row
Vinson Committee
Orders Inquiry Into
Attack on Army, Navy
By the Associated Press.

An investigation into Rubber
Administrator William Jeffers'
charges that Army and Navy
loafers" were interfering with
war production was ordered to-
day by the House Naval Affairs
Committee.
The action was taken at the
request of Chairman Vinson after
he read to the committee a news
paper story of Mr.. Jeffers' remarks
before the Council of State Cow
ernments at Baltimore yesterday.
This is a serious accusation" Mr..
Vinson said, land we should have
an inquiry to give Mr.. Jeffers an
opportunity to prove the correct.
ness of his statement. We should
also hear from Army and Navy
officials"
Army and Navy Loafers.
There was some question whether
Mr.. Jeffers had spoken of the Army
and Navy and loafers" or of the
Army and Navy loafers.'
His secretary, asked by reporters
to ask him what his exact words
were, later informed them that he
said he spoke of Army and Navy
loafers."
Mr.. Jeffers has been contending
that the he needs high priority on
materials to get his synthetic rub
Der program going and that the
armed services stand in his way
with their demands.
Chairman Donald M. Nelson OF
the War Production Board told
Senate Agriculture Subcommittee he
had given full cooperation" to Mr..
Jeffers, but I'VE can't put one pro-
gram ahead of all others"
The synthetic program, he re!
minded, is competing for priorities
on valves, heat exchangers, control
equipment and other parts against
four other "vitally urgent pro-
grams He listed them as the I00-
octane aviation gasoline, the air.
plane, escort vessel and merchant
ship programs.
| Mr.. Vinson said he planned to
suggest to Chairman May of the
House Military Affairs Committee
that the inquiry be made joint
investigation Mr.. May, indorsing
an investigation, said it was up to
his committee members 70 decide
whether to participate.
Ordinarily" Mr.. Vinson said,
this committee cannot concern it
self with idle gossip, rumors and
irresponsible statements. But MIR.
Jeffers holds responsible position;
ne is a great railroad executive. and
I think we should look into this
matter"
Mr.. Vinson will appoint subcom-
mittee to conduct the inquiry later.
At the suggestion of Representative
Mas, Republican, of Minnesota,
members of the Appropriation Com
mittee will be invited to attend the
hearings.
The conflict between rubber and
military demands appeared headed
for a decision by President Roose-
welt.
Denies Withholding Priorities.
The committee before which Mr..
Nelson testified is interested par
ticularly in the manufacture of rub
Der from alcohol derived from farm
products. Mr.. Nelson told it he
would be glad to investigate any
contention that petroleum plants
were given an advantage in the syn
thetic rubber work.
He fatty denied that priorities
had been withheld from the Pub
ticker Co, Philadelphia, construct
ing plant to manufacture buta-
dlene from grain alcohol, in favor
of plants making butadiene from
petroleum.
I'VE follow Mr.. Jeffers' recon-
menoations on synthetic rubber. I"
he said, land have confidence in his
judgment"
AS for competition with escort
vessels, aviation gasoline and other
programs, he asserted:
There is no doubt in my mind
about our ability to supply them all.
but not in one month, or two
months, or three months.
I'VE have to be governed by the
immediate urgency of the respective
programs.
That is the reason for the con-
stantly changing priorities. A rub
ber plant may have a favorable
priority that later will be subordi-
mated to the claim for machinery
for an escort vessel already in the
water and needed to escort troops
| ctrr,y1Iioe
Senator Thomas, Democrat. of
Oklahoma said the question natural
ly arose as to how large an Army
We can equip and support"
Can Equip Big Army.
I'VE can equip it, without ques-
tion,' Mr.. Nelson replied There's
no doubt about that, even If it goes
to 100000 this year. Whether
this can be done and still raise the
food, do not know"
Mr.. Nelson defended the ship
ment of tires to England, Russia
and South America, in an exchange
with Senator Wheeler, Democrat,
of Montana.
Russia is making good use of
| tAiooC bAiC CO, llC kCSJlLltQs fAIlu NTeI1.
Harold Alexander, commander of
the British 9th Army, is using our
tires to push Rommel back in Africa.
ANY rubber we have should be
used to lick the enemy. who'll lick
us If we don't lick him first
The rubber VS.. military situation
has developed rapidly.
The question is known to have
been in the hands of James r.
Byrnes, director of economic stabin-
zation, for about two weeks, but
informed sources said intense mill
tary pressure had been applied and
the final decision would have to
come from Mr.. Roosevelt.
These official sources said Army
and Navy heads had furnished a
joint memorandum to Mr.. Byrnes
setting forth their claims. Briefly,
these are that the special priority
directive sought by Mr.. Jeffers
would interfere with the other
must" programs.
| The intensity OF the conflict was
Continued on Page A-3, Column a.