Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-14
Letters to The Star
Urges Stopping Waste to Halt
Alternative of Rerationina
To the Editor Of The Star:


To the Editor Of The Star:
In recent edition of your paper, an
article stated that President Truman
considered that meat rationing might
again be necessary. 1t is my under
standing, and I believe this is shared
by the majority Of American citizens,
that rationing should be enforced only
when there is shortage of any COM
modify due to lack of production. How
ever, it has been rumored many times,
and in fact has been stated on the radio
that there is criminal wastage of not
only foodstuffs, but other commodities,
among the various armed services, of
which wastage the Government cannot
help being aware.
According to reports, the ships Of the
Merchant Marine are required by direc-
tives to have no foodstuffs aboard at
the end of each trip, as a new supply
has been allocated and is waiting to be
taken aboard in each port In one case
OF which heard, thousands of pounds
OF food were thrown overheard in order
to comply with this directive. Included
was over 1000 pounds of smoked ham,
According to the same report, this ship
endeavored to give this surplus food to
the American Red Cross depot at a
foreign port. The Red Cross stated
that it could not and would not accent
the food due to SO much governmental
red tape.
II this condition exists, and an inyesti-
CATION by an impartial governmental
agency readily can determine its exist
ence, it would seem that it is the duty
OF the President to take such steps as
are necessary to remedy such a con-
dition, not only to stop this vile practice
but to prevent an increase of the burden
OF the American public by reimposing
rationing. A friend of mine quoted
an instance Of wastage during his stay
In foreign station recently. When a
package of tea was opened, enough was
taken out for one brewing. The rest,
usually almost full package, was
thrown away. 1t also seems that in
spite OF the fact that the American
public is being requested to collect
clothing for use by those in need of
the same in foreign countries, especially
the Philippine Islands, the Army acting
under directives destroys annually mil
lions of garments, some brand new.
which could be remade into much sery-
iceable clothing for needy people. It
seems from reports that it is the policy
OF the Army to destroy anything which
seems to be in the nature Of surplus
commodities regardless of value to itself
or the general public. Witness the
wanton destruction of wood at Camp
Springs, Md. This wood was burned
by the hundreds OF cords. despite the
fact that the residents in the area
offered to buy and remove all wood cut
IN clearing the ground.
This wanton wastefulness must not
continue. The American people Are
entitled to some consideration. Let us
call upon the President and Congress
immediately to take such steps as are
necessary to assure them that If ration
Ing Is imposed, it is an absolute neces-
sity, not the brainstorm of some half
baked political aspirant. There are
enough commodities wantonly wasted
to support the needy Of several small
nations. II the President considers that
1t Is the duty Of America to feed the
world, then let him divert from waste
10 utility the huge quantities Of ma
terials for which the American public
is paying but from which no one Is
getting any benefit.
HERBERT BRADBURN.