Evening star., 1946-05-28
DC. Bakersfield
NOT toCut Size
0floavesYet
Federal Order for
1929 Reduction
Studied by West
By Malcolm Lomborne, Jr.

Washington bakeries must con-
tinue to produce the standard size
bread loaf and rolls pending a de-
cision by the District Commission
ers on whether Washington will fall
In line with the Governments order
making it mandatory to reduce
weights by 10 per cent.
This view was expressed by j.
Thomas Kennedy, superintendent of
weights, measures and markets, as
the Commissioners, following pre-
llmlnary study, referred the problem
to Corporation Counsel Vernon E.
West for final determination. The
Commissioners indicated willing
ness to cooperate with the Gov
ernment IF possible
The order, issued last night by
the Agriculture Department, is an
oth7r in series designed to make
NOR grain available for famine
relie4.
To date, city officials have been
cool to the Governments original
proposal for voluntary reduction of
bread loaves. Mr.. Kennedy would
only say that bakeries here should
continue to turn out the regular
size loaves, until the matter is set
tied by higher officials.
Cut Starts Saturday.
The department order makes the
10 per cent cut mandatory begin
ming Saturday. 1t further stipu-
lated that any baker who, because
of equipment difficulties, cannot
reasonably comply" is exempted,
providing he informs the depart
ment by June 10 that he cannot 20
along with the order and states
his reasons. Even then the depart
ment may find the baker can comply
and so direct.
A department spokesman said the
order was directed at eight States
and the District where present laws
prohibit weight reductions in bread.
The new order, it was said, is de-
signed to supersede local regula-
tions.
No Price Reduction.
The mandatory cut in size will
not be accompanied by any price
reduction. The OPA already has
authorized bakers to sell the smaller
loaf without 10 per cent price re-
duction.
Meanwhile, report was being
prepared by the department show
ing the Government has succeeded
in buying more than 100000 BUSH
els of wheat under it's bonus pro-
gram. This amount, coupled with
30,000,000 bushels of corn bought
under a similar arrangement, will
enable the United States to meet its
225, 900, ,000- -bushel export goal for
the first half of 1916, a department
spokesman said.
The report will cover Govern
ment purchases through last Sat-
urday, deadline for payment of
30-cents-a-bushel bonus to holders
Of last years wheat.
One department source reported
that during the past week wheat
was rolling into Government hands
at the rate of over 5000, 900 bushels
day in what was described as the
greatest grain movement in his
tory.
Transport Is Problem.
With the UNITED States thus as
sured of enough grain to meet its
pledges to UNRRA and other for
eign claimants, it now remains
problem solely of transportation.
I'VE will reach our goal, provid-
ing we can get the train and ship
facilities" this source said.
He said that some of the ship
mentS probably will lap over into
July. The original date set for the
225,000, ,000-bushel figure was June 80.
The department reported yester-
day that 4,751 900 bushels of grain
were exported from this country
during the second 10 days of May,
an increase of 831 900 bushels over
the first 10 days of the month. The
former shipments, the department
said, reflect the Government pur-
chases of grain under the bonus
program.