Evening star., 1950-11-21

Of affairs the department, instead
of revising the order to eliminate
the inequities and restricting the
use to not more than 10000 tons,
proceeded to grant additional
quotas totaling $4,000 tons"
The National Production Ad-
ministration later issued a modi-
fed order covering November and
December.
"The subcommittee has found
generally much less complacency
among Government officials work.
ing with the rubber program" the
report continued. THE Office of
Rubber Reserve of RFC has been
particularly alert in its under
standing of the implication of
changing events and officials in
this agency have been effective in
implementing new policies. How
ever, at times, the officials seem to
have been unnecessarily hesitant
in recommending new policies.
Authority for conserving rub
ber has so far been used only to
establish paper record for policy
making. augmentation of pol
icy is essential. The Department
of Commerce must learn to say
no as an answer to their pleas
for more rubber If the choice is
between non essential rubber
products and rubber for the ma
t1onal defense"
Specific Recommendations Listed.
The subcommittee's IA specific
recommendations were:
l. That, generally speaking and
unless there are strong counter
vailing considerations, the NUM-
tions Board should adopt a policy
OF disappearing further disposals
of industrial facilities capable of
the production of defense items
needed now for the preparedness
effort. Where, however, the only
alternative is keeping the plant
idle for a substantial period of
time, we agree with the Munitions
Board that sale or lease of the
properties to private interests for
productive use may be appropri-
ate snnder adequate safeguards.
2. That GSA promptly make a |
thorough Investigation of finan-
cial responsibility of the Central
States Corp, lessee of the Omaha
alcohol plant, and. that if finan-
cial responsibility cannot be estab-
lished. terminate the lease. if pos
sible, at the earliest practicable
date.
3. That GSA, in any event, in
woke the clause in the Omaha
plant contract giving the Govern
ment the right to all alcohol pro-
duced at the plant upon so days
notice, in time to secure the out
put for the synthetic-rubber pro-
gram.
More Co. ordination Urged.
4. That GSA and the Munitions
Board coordinate their decisions
and actions on surplus property so
as to avoid further episodes like
the scrapping of the 100-octane
aviation gasoline plant at Cotton
Valley. La.
S. That the Air Force close the
gap between adoption of policy
and execution of policy-a gap
which contributed to unfortunate
disposal of surplus materiel at
Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.
6. That GSA, as an interim step,
Immediately undertake to procure
the insertion of a national security
clause in the sale contract with
Schenley Distillers. Inc, covering
the Kansas City alcohol plant.
z. That GSA, in addition,
promptly seek an adjudication of
validity of it's sale of the Kansas
City plant to Schenley Distillers,
Inc, since the sale was consum-
mated while its freeze" order on
diSposals was in effect.
8. That the studies recommend
ed in President Truman's new
rubber program be undertaken and
completed promptly so that the
program visualized in the Presi-
dents recommendations can be
put into effect at the earliest pos
sible date.
8. That the rubber needs and
rubber programs of nations friend
ly to the United States be consid-
cred thoroughly in the develop
ment OF our national rubber
policies and plans.
Continued Research Stressed.
i 10. That exercise by the De-
partment of Commerce of it's allo-
cation and conservation powers