Evening star., 1943-07-15
BEW Defended

AZ An EuClCHt hkcHCSs
To the Editor OF The Star:
Jesse Jones zeal for the taxpayer Is
much in the spirit Of the Sunday school
poem which runs:
He dropped a nickel in the plate,
Then meekly raised his eyes,
Thankful the weekly rent was paid
For a mansion in the skies.
II is the opinion Of many that the
Board of Economic Warfare Is setup
composed largely Of experts in industry
and men who in private business have
learned the meaning of the word pro-
duce" This, too, seemed the almost
unanimous opinion of Congress until
week or so ago Now comes an inference,
based on hypothesis, that more than
minimum is probably being paid for war
essentials And then comes qualiflca-
ton, indeed arbitrary. that no one is
being accused of paying too much
Now undoubtedly much strategic ma
terial is being sought in Latin America.
It might be well to consider what the
purchaser is up against: The experience
of companies seeking commodities for
which there naturally would be no local
demand Latin America, not being on
a department. store basis where mate
rails with little or no local demand are
passed over the counter in staggering
quantities, purchaser, If he needs the
materials badly and without delay,
would have to have some little leeway as
TO price or he just would not get what
4f efrof q
gic materials is primarily ours. What
incentive other than fair price tand
a feeling of good will toward the pur-
chaser could induce businessmen in
Latin America to search out these COM
modities? Many of these commodities
are encountered only in very unhealthy
regions and the cost Of medical care and
supplies must be taken into considera-
ton.
In the South American capitals, in the
larger cities and the cool uplands one
can live better and for less money than
here in Washington. But in regions
where malaria, dysentery and typhoid
are endemic no one could be adequately
compensated in money for the time
spent in such spots. With unlimited
amounts at their disposal, large corpora
tions, even with a lavish hand, have
difficulties in starting their enterprises.
They are not given to undue haggling.
A penny-wise policy at a time when
speed would seem most essential would
rot seem to be the best How are prices
arrived at anyway when the only pos
sible demand can be from a sole pur-
chaser? Transportation. problem in
sparsely settled countries. must OF neces-
sity add tremendously to the cost. Then,
too, there may be the cost OF primary
exploration for commodity existing in
some country, but for which hitherto
there was no. demand. Corredors
(brokers) on a small scale, perform a
service in the larger cities of Latin
America for those ferreting out scarce
materials for which there Is urgent need.
The companies who avail themselves Of
the services oftentimes have not the
slightest idea of the value or the price
that will be asked for the thing they
seek. But when the time and effort of
the corredor has been figured out, it is
generally reasonable enough, indeed.
When the world again is normal, per-
haps commodities may be obtained on
an eye-for- -an-eye basis. Had the De-
partment of Commerce years ago worked
out the problem as to what constitutes
a fair price, surmises as to probable
overpayment In period of emergency
could have been dispensed with. What