Evening star., 1945-04-01

be increased. Take-home pay IN
peace equal to take-home pay
now being received, must have as
a foundation a volume of pro-
duction and consumption of
civilian goods equal to cur pres
ent production and consumption.
Magnificent Job Done
BY Railroads Praised.
The report points out the mag
nificent job being accomplished
by our railroads. However, the
tax on transportation will con-
tinue until Japan Is defeated and
unnecessary travel must still be
avoided.
The Interagency Deferment
Committee, at the suggestion of
the director, has granted high
percentage of deferments to men
between 26 and 20 employed in
transportation.
We day will provide no i'm
mediate relief in either truck or
passenger car transportation.
However, small increase in the
basic gasoline ration appears
feasible
The report points out that a
decrease in food supply in the
face of increasing demands
makes our situation less favor
able in l945 than 1914. We will
not eat as well. However, we
will not be hungry and our diet
will not be deficient. We must
tighten our belts little. At the
same time, We must again call
on our farmers for an all-out
effort. In this way, we will be
able to provide some relief for
stricken areas throughout the
world without weakening our
own military effort and without
lmpairing the health of our civil
ian population. A proposed re-
duction in the quantity or quail
ity of the soldiers ration has
been disapproved by the director.
In discussing construction and
public works, the report recon-
mends that private construction
be permitted to 60 ahead before
public construction unless the
latter is required to support the
war against Japan. Lumber will
remain scarce for some months
and will prevent large-scale pro-
duction of private housing.
Local unemployment will de-
velop pressure for large public
works programs. These should
be resisted until Japan is de-
feated. There is backlog of
$4,000, 100000 in authorized Fed
eral projects and a total backlog,
including private projects, which
Will reach $7000,000,O0O. The
governmental construction agen-
cies should be given funds now
to prepare plans and specifica-
tlons in sufficient detail to per-
nit projects being placed under
construction rapidly following
the defeat of Japan.
Rapid Progress Seen
In Private Construction.
Private construction, particu-
larly private housing, should pro-
gress rapidly when lumber be-
comes available. Our loan in
stitutions are in excellent posi-
ton to finance such a program,
and Federal authority is available
to insure such loans in the
amount of approximately s2,-
00O,O00,O00.
Federal and State aided low
rent housing programs and rural
housing should receive favorable
consideration by the Congress.
The director also urges that the
Federal Works Administration be
provided with the s35, 5,OOO, 900 ap-
proved by the Senate for advance
to local authorities to stimulate
planning now for projects to be
built when Japan is defeated.
The report points out the pro-
cedures established under the
Retraining and Unemployment
Administration to aid veterans
and released workers. Re-em-
ployment committeeman are
available at each of $500 local
draft boards to help veterans in
obtaining their old jobs; 1,5OO
local Offices of the USES are
equipped to help veterals find
jobs, and $1,000 institutions have
been approved to furnish educa-
ton to veterans. Adequate hos
pltal facilities are being provided.
State unemployment compensa-
ton offices will furnish the vet
Grams with readjustment allow
ances if he is unemployed. Ar
rangements have been made to
facilitate loans provided for in
the GI bill.
The report points out that the
section of the Selective Training
and Service Act which provides
Unemployment rights for vet
erans requires Qualification. A
special committee appointed by
Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines is
studying this problem. The re-
port of this committee will be
given full consideration and sub
mitted to the Congress If fur
ther legislation appears to be
necessary.
The wartime facilities of the
USES will be retained to find
employment for displaced war
workers. Provisions have been
made for unemployment compen-
sation to care for these war
workers while temporarily un-
employed. However, these provi-
sions are inadequate. Previous
recommendations for their broad