Evening star., 1943-04-20
JeffersandDavii
Will Testify in
Rubber Row
Senators Object to
HoIting Of Work on
5 Alcohol Plants
BY the Associated Press,

A decision by WPB's Chemicals
Division to defer construction of
five projected grain alcohol
plants without the full agree
ment" of Rubber Director Will
liam M. Jeffers brought a wave
of protests today from members
of a Senate Agriculture Subcom-
mittee.
The committee voted to call Mr..
Jeffers soon to get his reaction
Elmer Davis, director of the Office
of War Information, will be called
at the same time to allow an inves-
tigation of differences between the
two officials over publicity respecting
the rubber program.
Mr.. Jefers and Mr.. Davis yester-
day engaged in verbal battle over
reports on the programs progress.
Statement Cleared by Owl.
In statement which he said had
been cleared by the Owl but had
not been submitted to Chairman
Donald NJ Nelson of the War Pro-
duction Board, DR.. Walter G.. Whit
man. assistant director of the WPB
Alcohol Section of the Chemicals
Division, testified:
THE decision of the Chemicals
Division will defer approval at this
time of projects at Carrollville, Wis;
Dubuque and Keokuk, Iowa, and
Moline and Peoria, ILL.,
Chairman Gillette drew from the
witness that the statement had not
been submitted to Mr.. Nelson or
c. E. Wilson, WPB vice chairman,
and though it had been discussed
with Mr.. Jeffers, II can fairly say he
is not in unanimous agreement"
In other words" interrupted Sem
ator Wheeler, Democrat, of Mon
tana, "he doesn't think these pro-
jects should be deferred"
The witness would not go that far,
asserting his views are not in full
agreement with ours, and I'd prefer
that he speak for himself"
DR.. Whitman, taking full respon-
sibility for the decision, told the
committee, the rubber program
will never suffer from the lack of
a single gallon of alcohol"
People Entitled to Truth.
Senator Wheeler recommended
that "in view of the wide dis
crepancy between the views of
Elmer Davis and Jeffers over the
rubber program, we should call both
of these gentlemen"
"Jeffers says we are going to have
enough rubber" Senator Wheeler
said. Davis says we are not. The
American people are entitled to
know the truth"
Personally" he added, I'D be
glad to see the Owl eliminated-I
think it would be a blessing to the
country"
Appearing before the committee
with DR.. Whitman was John w.
Boyer, chief Of the WPB Alcohol
Section.
Recent reduction in the esti-
mated industrial alcohol require
ments make it unnecessary at this
time to approve the construction of
any new alcohol plants" DR.. Whit
man told the committee.
Plants Nearly Complete.
The five sites recently were an
nounced by the WPB as suitable
locations for alcohol plants, and five
prospective lessees were invited to
submit proposals.
"The five projects DR.. Whitman
asserted, "are now nearly COM
pleted for presentation to WPB and
it is planned to have them available
for action, if later changes in the
alcohol situation make new con-
struction necessary"
DR.. Whitman and Mr.. Boyer told
the committee the anticipated pro-
duction of alcohol for the next 20
months substantially equals esti-
mated demands for the same period.
In addition. the Government in the
last II months has accumulated re-
serve stocks of more than 100000 900
gallons of alcohol.
They added this should insure the
program against unexpected in
creases in requirements and allow
time for new construction, should
unforeseen demands develop.
DR.. Whitman estimated indus
trial alcohol supplies for 1943 at
470,000,000 gallons against require
ments of 435,000,000 and said 1884
supplies and requirements would
balance at 590,0OO,000 gallons.
This years program for alcohol
made from grain will require 1885,
100000 bushels of wheat, corn and
other grains while 1914 requirements
will approximate 190,00O,OO0 bushels,
he added.
"Our present picture makes us be-
lieve we would not be justified today
in approving construction of addi-
tional new plants for alcohol, espe-
cially in view of the critical mate
rials involved and the tight con-
struction situation" DR.. Whitman
said.
Mr.. Jeffers and Mr.. Davis crossed
words over a report issued Saturday
by owl on the rubber situation.
The rubber director termed it "stale,
inaccurate and confusing" while
Mr.. Davis retorted that 80 long as
I am here I propose to tell the peo-
pie the truth as accurately as I can
ascertain it, whether Mr.. Jeffers
likes it or not"
Controversary on Production.
The report in question indicated
that the great bulk Of 27,0OO, 900
civilian passenger car owners can
not expect new synthetic tires be-
fore the last half of 1914, while Mr.
Jeffers recently told a Senate COM
mittee he believed it would be pos
sibie to distribute 100000 new
tires to civilians this year, includ-
ing 100000 synthetic tires.
Mr. Jeffers contended the report
further confuses the public" adding
that he felt he should be the spokes-
man for the rubber programmed
some specialist in Mr.. Francis FL
mer Davis Office who doesn't know
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