Evening star., 1945-08-15

the Flying Tigers, who drove
on major items of short supply to
curb imitation.
2. Wage stabilization will be re-
tanned, but present controls will be
relaxed to further correct substand-
ards, inequities and provide for
restoration of collective bargaining
wherever price ceilings will not be
endangered.
3. Rent controls will be retained.
4. Relief from rationing will be
granted except where necessary to
protect short supplies and the sta
bilization program.
5. Many production and distribu-
ton controls will be lifted immedi-
ately. only those will remain in
force which are essential for ex-
pediting production. breaking bot
tlenecks. preventing inventory
boarding and assuring economic
stabilization."
6. He asked for immediate legis-
lation to ease the shock of recon-
version, including increased unem-
ployment compensation benefits;
raising of the statutory minimum
wage above the present 40 cents an
hour; tax program to stimulate pro-
duction and maintain markets; ap-
preparations for planning and exc
cution Of public works; adequate
appropriations for the United States
Employment Service and retention
of its Federal control during the
transition period.
Situation in Other Fields.
Other points covered by Mr..
Snyder included:
Materials-Most raw materials
plentiful. But natural rubber, tin,
lumber. coal will continue short
some time.
Services-Better deliveries, laun-
dry, repairs, and so on, but not until
workers are rehired.
Rail Lravel-Restrictions to con-
tinue a while.
Manufacturing-Making of many
consumer items will reach a high
level within three to six months.
This doesn't mean an end to short
ages.
Automobiles and housing-Not
enough to meet public demand for
quite good while yet.
Coal-Probably short throughout
next winter.
Paper-This shortage won't be
over until Swedish pulp again
reaches this country in volume.
Relief and Rehabilitation-We1l
have to continue helping liberated
areas for some time with food, tex
tiles, coal, transportation, machin-
cry.
Goal Is Production.
Mr.. Snyder said the goal Of our
economy in peace was "in a sense
the same as in war: production" He
said he was confident that healthy
peacetime economy would be
achieved, although the task ahead
OF the Nation was staggering"
The American people have over
come the problems of war, he said.
1T is unthinkable that we should
not overcome the problems of peace. +"
Unemployment, he said. was ex-
pected to rise from the present fig
ure of 100000 to 5000, 900 or more
within three months-perhaps to
100000 before next spring.
All energies of government will be
directed toward getting production
underway as speedily as possible.
Only the controls necessary to &C.
complish that task and hold the
imitation will be retained.
While some industries will recon-
vert easily, Mr.. Snyder declared that
it will take more than a year for
industry to gain full-tilt momentum.
The tough days will come in the
next Is months. After that. he
added, there should be a period of
prosperity.
Directors of most of the war
agencies, headed by Mr.. Snyder, will
go on the radio tonight to describe
in further detail Government plans
for the coming days. The speakers
will include OPA Administrator
Chester Bowles, Mr.. Krug, Stabiliza-
ton Director william H, Davis and
VINO Chairman McNutt.
A bright spot in reconversion,
which the most optimistic Of Gov
leaders say will result in
millions being thrown out of work,
at least temporarily, was furnished
by the great steel industry. There
were forecasts of better times ahead,
and Walter s. Tower, president Of
the conservative American Iron and
Steel Institute, said:
There will be no extended DELAY
in production nor sharp loss in
because Of the neces-
stty OF reconverting the mills from
war to peacetime production.
Burden on Industry.
Steel is one of the great basic
industries counted on heavily by
Government planners to relieve the
economic shock Of the return to
industrial normalcy. Others are the
construction industry. virtually dead
In recent months, and the auto
mobile industry, just returning to
life after q three-year shutdown.
Omcials were expected to devote
most attention to getting basic In
dustry rolling on peacetime goods.
Impoverished service trades
also are being relied on heavily to
take up the slack in employment
attending the elimination of war
work.
Industry generally found itself
ION its own" for the first time in
many years. There are literally
thousands Of industrial establish