Evening star., 1945-09-13
Decision on Removing
Last Building Controls.
Expected Next Week
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE. Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
A final decision on the lifting
of the War Production Boards
restrictions on private construc-
tion may be forthcoming next
week, it was learned today as
two Government agencies took
steps to clear the way for home
building.
The Office of Price Administra-
ton, without public announcement,
delegated authority to its regional
administrators to set dollar-and-
cents ceiling on sales of certain
building materials and to order SELL
ers to post ceiling prices similar to
listings required of grocery stores
and restaurants.
The War Production Board an
nounced that 1t was revoking Oc-
tober its order on the distribution
OF all lumber. The order, issued in
June of last year, was designed to
provide vast quantities of lumber
for war production and direct mill
tary use.
Sale Restriction Left.
With these latest actions, only
WPB's construction order restrict
ing private and public housing, pub
lie works and commercial building
remained on the books. The Gov
ernment has lifted controls on fac
tory construction and building of
structures pertaining to transporta-
tion and permitted general repair
work.
The return Of Reconversion Direc-
tor John w. Snyder from Europe
this coming week end is expected
to speed decision on housing con-
struction. The industry is urging
revocation of the order with no
strings attached, while certain Gov
ernment officials want controls con-
anued in so far as prices of homes
are concerned.
The action of Price Administrator
Chester Bowles in granting regional
chiefs authority to set maximum
ceilings on building materials on a
community basis made it clear that
the Government was determined to
Keep prices in line until supplies be-
come sufficient to balance demand.
Bowles' Price Order.
Mr.. Bowles directed that maxi
mum prices shall be set forth in
dollars -and-cents unless this shall
clearly appear impracticable or in
appropriate" and that these prices
shall not exceed the general level
OF prices as fixed by the regulation
which would otherwise be appli-
cable"
The order goes into effect Sun
day. An OPA spokesman explained
that with prices posted, purchaser
will know exactly how much he
should pay for building materials.
WPB's lumber order provided
lumber for essential users on al
quarterly basis, controlled all species
and grades and restricted sales by
sawmills and purchase by con-
sumerS.
WPB estimated last night that
$500, 900, 900 will be spent on new
construction, next year, compared
with $4,000 10000 in 1945.
Construction, always a major fac
tor in providing jobs, will employ
more than 1000 900 persons in 1916,
the board said. This compares with
something over 100000 employed in
the building industry this year.
Doesn't Include Repairs.
The million employment estimate
for 1916 does not include employ
ment for maintenance and repair
activity, expected to exceed $4,000
100000. Likewise, it does not in
clude indirect employment, such as
workers needed to supply construc-
ton materials.
WPB said vast program of new
construction already is well under
way.
A survey of Al selected industries
covering 4,l01 companies throughout
the country showed an expenditure
of $420, ,225 900 for construction, tools
and equipment during the next II
months.
This, WPB Chairman J. A. Krug
emphasized, does not cover the
whole reconversion field, "but merely
indicates the trend"