Evening star., 1943-05-04
Jeffers Sharply CriticizesN Nelson
And AssuiIs OPA Restrictions
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NouSS NSSN0uuS ~ y
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ton I have had since I have been
In Washington.
'"The testimony has brought out
that the forced progress of the syn
thetic rubber campaign has not de-
layed the manufacture of 100-octane
gasoline or escort vessels or aircraft
or merchant marine. Rather the
momentum Of the rubber program
has dragged forward all of these
phase of the war;
Senator Brewster, Republican, of
Maine smilingly told Mr.. Jeffers he
was pleased to note that relations
between Mr.. Patterson and the rub
Der director apparently had reached
Pat and JEFF" basis.
In response to Senator BreWster's
questions, Mr.. Jeffers said rubber
consumption had not been so large
as had been estimated several
months ago. because of conservation
measures taken by the Army and
other large users. He would not con-
cede, however, that the rubber pro-
gram had passed the critical point.
No Hope for Driving.
But he did not hold out hope that
civilian driving might be restored to
more nearly normal level.
You doubtless have noticed men,
ton in the press recently that if the
program is carried through as now
set, there will be too much rubber" /"
he said.
L am not clear as to what is
meant by too much rubber.
Il do not think that there will be
too much rubber if there is enough
for military needs, for essential civil
ian drive and enough left over to
pei unit the American people to go
about at least some of their normal
activities, which in long war is a
military necessity, because 1t means
so much in civilian morale.
Keep in mind, however, that
am discussing rubber, not gasoline.
AS to the latter, am expressing no
view"
Estimates on Output.
Mr.. Jefters estimated that 275 900
tons of synthetic rubber will be pro-
duced this year and there will be a
reserve at the end of the year of
only 145,000 tons of all first-grade
rubber. He said it would be possible
to make about 100000 synthetic
tires this year, almost all of which
will go to Army and other essential
users.
Within three or four months, the
rubber director said, there will be a
surplus of the plant machinery for
which the rubber, high octane and
other programs are now fighting.
One of the committee members
deplored the fact that Government
officials were "perpetually wran-
Cling"
II am not wrangling with any
body" Mr.. JefIers declared.
This job is pretty we'll set. My
ambition is to get it set and to get
out of Washington. I have no in
terest in anything In Washington
have been given a job to do and
maybe I have done it too we'll
Whats wrong with Washing
ton?" Senator Ferguson, Republican
of Michigan asked.
"You put that answer in the
record" replied Mr.. Jeffers. you
answer that one. I have my own
opinions, and I do not care to ex-
press them here"
Program Set, He Says.
Mr.. Jeffers told the committee the
rubber program had been cut back
somewhat from that suggested in
the Baruch Esports but that aow sthe
program is SET ahd Should be left
alone" He predicted that the new
rubber plants would attain the high
output estimated by engineers land
perhaps little more"
The director said he had been
aware of the problem of producing
enough gasoline to fly our war
planes, but that he had not been
consulted in the matter either by the
War Department or Mr.. Ickes.
He was asked if he would 60 on
an inspection trip to rubber and
gasoline plants to break bottle
necks" as suggested yesterday by
Undersecretary of War Patterson
Mr.. Jeffers did not answer directly
though he said he would confer with
Mr.. Patterson and Mr.. Ickes.
Doesn't Like Term.
Senator Ball accused the rubber
directors Office Of giving the brush.
off" to a process known as "Jenite,
developed by Minnesota interests tc
make reclaimed rubber go father
The Senator said he understood
that under the process AZ pounds o1
re-capped material could be made
from Is pounds of reclaimed rubber
Il don't like that term brush.
off," answered Mr.. Jeffers belig.
erently. Il don't brush of anything
Col. Dewey (the deputy rubber di.
rector is q chemist. He can tel