Evening star., 1944-11-28
Cigarette tobacco
Supplies Are Ample,
Experts Tell Probers

experts len PT0DeTS
The Nation has an 1s-month
supply of cigarette tobacco, 1t
developed today as the House
Agriculture Committee started
inquiring into the cigarette
shortage.
Members of Congress from to-
bacco- producing States, called as
witnesses, backed up inventory fis-
ures supplied by an Agriculture De-
partment tobacco expert, and denied
"propaganda" that the shortage was
due to lack of leaf tobacco.
Typical of the testimony was that
of Representative Chapman, DEM
ocrat, of Kentucky, who declared: {:
IT don't know what the cause Of
the shortage is, but it isn't due to
a shortage of leaf tobacco" He
said this years crop Of hurley to-
bacco-one of the two principal to-
baccos used in cigarettes-was the
largest in history.
fr0pAGandA CHARGED.
He declared tobacco distributors
have spread propaganda in order
to wreck the tobacco program" de-
spite the fact that growers are
wholeheartedly behind the admins
tration Of the tobacco production
program.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the
Senate War Investigating Commit
tee reported its agents were con-
tinuing its private investigation OF
the cigarette shortage and that
preliminary report probably would
be submitted to the full committee
later this week. A statement was
promised within few days.
Representative Birch, Democrat,
Of Virginia told the House group
1t was estimated that manufacturers
had about 1000 ,000, 900 pounds Of
flue-cured tobacco on hand as Of
July !, and that, like hurley pro-
duction, it was the largest on record.
He advanced the theory there was
right much boarding" Of cigarettes.
George e. Powell, Commodity
Credit Corp. tobacco expert who
supplied the committee with the in
ventory figures, said he believes the
cigarette shortage is due In part to
many people buying cigarettes in
excess Of their needs" He added
that there may also be some NAL
distribution"
Statistics on Cigars.
The witness also supplied figures
showing that cigars are becoming
scarce. From q total Of $3.50, ,000, 900
cigars produced in 1912, production
has fallen of by about / zoo, ,000, 900,
he said.
Questioned by Representative
Andersen Of Minnesota on whether
leaf tobacco exports to the British
Empire was a factor in the short
age, Mr.. Powell said that since the
war tobacco exports have decreased.
In l943, for instance, the CCC ex-
ported 375, ,000, 900 pounds, OF which
about a third was under lease-lend
and the rest in cash sales. The CCC
has been allocated about 800 900 900
pounds for export In 1914, he tes-
tified.
Several witnesses testified that
producers were unable to plant to-
bacco up to the goals set by the
War Food Administration because
Of lack Of labor. Labor costs also
were cited as factor, Mr.. Chapman
pointing out that 1t costs about %
4 day per laborer for cutting to-
bacco.
Representative Kerr, Democrat. of
North Carolina declared: 1T is the
first time in my life that had heard
the industry claim there is a shortage
Of tobacco" He said the Agricultural
Adjustment Asencys crop control
program has proved q success and
that growers are satisfied with the
program. ..s /.
Ferguson Seeks Causes.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, Of
Michigan, . member Of the Senate
committee, said his interest is ito
see If the shortage has been caused
by black market, excessive storage
or for other reasons"
People have been led to believe
they can't buy cigarettes because
q large percentage of manufacture
is going to troops overseas" Sena-
tor Ferguson continued. Then they
learn that at many points the
soldiers can't get cigarettes or have
to pay black market prices.
There probably are a number
Of explanations for the shortage
including increased consumption
here and abroad
But until we find out what the
causes are 1t will be dificult to flnd
q remedy"
President Eric Calamia of the
National Retail Tobacco Merchants
Association said at Kansas City yes
terday that the shortage will be
even worse in the next three months
than 1t has been in the last tuo