Evening star., 1947-02-03

Ally .nihsSO IN
mated civilian deficiency for the
year ending July, 1947, is over
8, ,000, 900 ounces of quinine and TO-
600 ounces of quinidine. So long
as such a shortage continues, the
most vital medical uses must be
given top priority.
Natural and Synthetic Rubber
Natural rubber will probably con-
tinue in short supply throughout
the world In 1947. At the same time,
1T is important to the National
defense that a minimum synthetic
rubber industry be maintained in
the United States pending consider
alton of permanent legislation by
the Congress. Consequently, con-
tinued ALLEGATION control over rub
ber is necessary.
Manila and other hard cordage
fibers are of basic importance, be-
cause from them are made rope,
binder, baler and wrapping twines,
paper and padding. The supply
in prospect from all sources for
the next IL months is no more than
half our annual requirements. The
termination of ALLEGATION control
over manila would seriously impede
agricultural and other essential
production.
Tin and antimony are also
basic materials which we must i'm
port. The supply of tin will not
approximate demand until some
time in 1948. In the case of anti
mony, we must wait for resumption
of shipments from. China, the
primary prewar source.
Continued ALLEGATION Of tin, tin
plate and other tin products and
antimony is ain important positive
aid to our domestic industries and
in carrying out our international
understandings.
DOMESTIC SHORTAGES.
Housing ALLEGATION powers of
the Veterans Emergency Housing
Act and of the Second War Powers
Act were instrumental in increasing
the flow of building materials to
which the veterans housing pro-
gram in large measure owes its prog
ress to date. This achievement
made possible the recent reduction
in the number and scope of these
controls.
During the balance of 1947, I anti
cipate further reduction in the use
of these powers, but it will be neces-
sary to continue some limits on
construction and to continue assis-
tance to the producers of some
bottleneck materials.
I understand that voluntary ar
rangements are being made with a
number of producers to meet the
needs of the. building materials in
dustries so that the use of ALLEGATION
powers can be held to a minimum
To the extent that formal action
may prove necessary, the Congress
has wisely provided that materials
and facilities for building construc-
ton may be allocated under the
Veterans Emergency Housing Act
until December 81, 1947. Accord
ingly, Title III need not be extended
for the purposes of the housing
program.
Freight Cars-There is at the
present time an extremely serious
freight car shortage. The shortage
will increase as the Nations produc-
ton increases. The reported aver
age daily freight car shortage now
amounts to approximately $4,000
cars. For a number of months car
loadings have been heavier than at
any period since 1880, including the
war years.
The American railroads have
about 521,0 900 fewer cars now than in
1890. and about 1,100 fewer service
able cars than they, hadsGfl lags
The number of freight cars being re-
moved from service each month
because of their being wofr mt
exceeds on the average the number
of new freight cars delivered to the
railroads.
Loads Are Increasing.
The load our railways must carry
10 S1O"1llS Willie Gl1C ldC4llGlCo 4OA
handling the load are dwindling. To
cope with this problem with any
measurable degree of success re-
quires provident use of rail trans
portation facilities.
ALLEGATION is therefore necessary
If we are to use the railway freight
cars and other equipment and facili-
ties that we have at all efficiently in
this period just ahead.
Others Shortages-The only other
current domestic shortages suff-
GENTLY serious to require continued
ALLEGATION control beyond March 81
are streptomycin, automobiles and
tractors. Limited distribution of
streptomycin for civilian use was
begun in September, 1916, but it is
at present impossible to determine
requirements or to plan production
of this drug.
In the case of automobiles and