Evening star., 1946-09-27
Scarce Material
Allotted Kaiser,
Small Admits
Reveals Auto Makers
Aluminium PIunt
Received Soda Ash T

Civilian Production Adminis-
traitor John D. Small acknowl-
edged today that his agency
ordered the potash industry to
supply soda ash to a Henry ].
Kaiser aluminium plant, although
advised it would mean cutting
production elsewhere.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan brought out during ques-
tioning of MIR. Small before the SEN
ate War Investigating Committee
that the order was issued two or
three weeks ago"
In brief, Mr.. Small,s testimony
was that Kaiser plant in Louisiana
needed soda ash. now very scarce,
in order to produce aluminium.
CPA called in representatives Of
the soda ash industry for a con-
ference An order requiring deliv-
cries to Kaiser was subsequently is
sued.
Didn't the (soda ASH industry
say glass and other industries turn
ing out housing materials would be
affected" Senator Ferguson asked.
SAYS Glass Men Approved.
They said demand for soda ash
was so great that they would have
to take it away from other GUS
toners" Mr. Small replied.
| Mr.. Small said he had talked with
men in the glass industry, whom he
preferred not to name, and that they
approved the agency's decision on
the Kaiser order.
! Senator Ferguson asked whether
the aluminium was to be used build
ing houses and got the reply: Not
necessarily
Didn't Kaiser want the alum
mum for his automobile industry"
the Michigan Senator pursued.
Some part, no doubt" Mr.. Small
replied, then added that he was
sure the plant would produce more
than the amount required for that
purpose.
When Senator Ferguson asked
whether any Government agency
had taken up Mr.. Kaiser's needs
with CPA, MIR. Small said he did
not know but "RFC might have"
He said he had not handled the
matter personally.
/ Mead Calls for Statement.
I Senator Mead, Democrat. of New
York, retiring chairman, broke in
to recall that Congress was anxious
to help develop new aluminium in
dustries in the postwar period, be-
cause at the start of the last wal
| the existence of an aluminium
monopoly created bottlenecks. The
Senator said he held no brief for
J Mr.. Kaiser, but asked Mr.. Small
. to submit for the record a strong
; statement covering the intent of
; existing law to encourage the de-
velopment of competition in the
postwar period.
Senator Ferguson said the chair
mans remarks implied that he
ferguson was trying to help "in-
trenched interests" by questioning
the Kaiser priority order. Senator
Mead denied any such intent.
My desire in raising the question
was to find out whether the will of
Congress also is being carried out
to help the housing industry" Sen
ator Ferguson continued.
Mr.. Small told Senator Ferguson
that, out of the 10000 or 10000 or
ders that have been issued since
VI day on ALLEGATION of materials,
the great bulk" have been to aid
the production Of lumber, nails and
similar essentials in home con-
struction. The Kaiser matter was
only one case out of that large
number, he added.
Scare Materials Bartered.
The colloquy occurred after Mr..
Small had read a prepared state
ment to the committee in which he
declared this country exports some
critically short materials, such as
/