Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-01
Truman Appeals
To Disti|Iers 10
Limit Grain Use.
Asks Voluntary Action
As His ALLEGATION
Powers Expire
By Malcolm Lomborne, Jr.

President Truman called on
the Nations distillers last night
to limit their use of grain on a
voluntary basis to the rate OF
100000 bushels a month eStab-
liShed in January. .
The appeal came just few hours
before the industry was freed Of
grain restrictions. The Govern
ment's power to allocate grain te
whiskey makers expired at midnight
Mr.. Truman also expressed regret
II. a statement, that Congress hao
failed to act lin time" to extend his
ALLEGATION powers. He said he hopes
Congress will take favorable action
as soon as possible.
Mr.. Truman asked Congress
Thursday for a nine months ex-
tension, saying the shortage OF
grain "jeopardizes the national Sc
curity."
Hearings to Begin This Week.
Senator Taft, Republican, Of
Ohio, and chairman of the Joint
Economic Committee, told a re-
porter yesterday that hearings on
the Presidents request would begin
this week.
He said the tentative plan calls
for joint hearings by the Eco
nomic Committee and the Senate
Banking Committee.
The order limiting the industry
during January to 100000 bushels
Gied when the House Banking Com
mittee voted IL to against a bill
which the Senate had approved, ex-
tending authority through Febru-
airy 20.
An industry spokesman declared
last night that he was confident
distillers would fall in line" with
the Presidents requst for voluntary
control.
The Distilled Spirits Institute dis
closed that prior to the Presidents
appeal, it had sent kilograms to
all segments Of the industry urging
them to be reasonable in the use
of grain when controls expire.
The institute represents about IS
per cent of the distillers, but in
making its appeal, a spokesman
said, it sent messages to both men,
bers and nonmemeers.
/ Agreement Reported.
1t was learned that number of
distillers already had agreed to
hold down their grain use during
February to about half of the
amount used last February, or be-
tween 5000 900 and $500, 900 bushels.
Mr.. Truman declared that at is
unthinkable that, at this time,
when the need for grain as a food
is so great, the distillers in this
country should choose to use un-
limited quantities of grain in the
manufacture of whisky"
He continued:
Therefore, I now call upon all
users of grain for the production of
ethyl alcohol, including both distil-
led spirits and neutral spirits, to
observe temporarily the same con-
trolls established by the grain con-
servation order of the Secretary of
Agriculture dated December 80, 1947
Specifically, I ask them to use
no wheat in the making of whisky.
I ask them to use as a monthly
basis of consumption those limited
quantities of grain set forth by the
Secretary's order as a quota for the
month of January. I ask them not
to disturb grain markets by rushing
in and purchasing large quantities
of cereals"
The President observed that when
millions face the threat of starva-
ton, the use of grain for the pro-
duction of whisky and other bever-
age spirits is a use which is clearly
nonessential."
Mr.. Truman added that the limi-
tations placed on distillers ARE
reasonable and have not caused
(See DISTILLERS, Page A-10)