Evening star., 1951-02-09
Steel Cufbacks Mean
Layoffs Of 100000,
Auto Industry Says
By Froncis P. DouqIos

The Governments plans to cut
back on the civilian use of steel
and other metals drew protests
today that the action would cause
the layoff of between 100000 and
100000 workers in the automobile
and auto parts industries.
How large the metal cutbacks
will be has not yet been deter
mined, but it has been estimated
by National Production Authority
officials that they will trim auto
mobile production by Is to 40
per cent.
The program was laid before
representatives of industry and
labor yesterday. The metals order
Is expected to be issued in about
two weeks and to be effective be-
ginning April /.
Objections Raised.
Labor and industry representa-
tives were reported to have ad-
vanced two objections:
l. That NPA failed to show
that defense orders will require
the amount Of steel to be set aside
for them.
2. That defense orders will not
take UP the slack caused by the
auto industry's cutbacks.
NPA officials, on the other
hand, maintain military orders
have been coming out in greater
quantity since January l and that
reports there will be less demand
after March ! are erroneous.
Appliances Affected.
The orders will apply not only
to automobiles but to such house
hold appliances as washing ma
chimes, refrigerators, ranges, metal
furniture and possible such small
appliances as toasters and waffle
irons.
Building Restrictions Modified.
Today the National Production
Authority modified it's restrictions
on erecting commercial buildings,
making it unnecessary to obtain
authorization to build radio and
television stations and plants for
the publication of newspapers or
books and periodicals.
NPA said the action was in
tended to insure the greatest
possible freedom for the COM
munication of news and educa-
tional material.
The building order issued last
month provided for a freeze of
commercial buildings until next
Thursday. After that. authorize
ton must be obtained to put Up
commercial buildings specified IN
a long list.
Office buildings are on that list.
NPA today defined an Office build
ing as any structure designed to
furnish Office space whether for
the exclusive or partial use of the
owner, or to be rented out. No
authorization is required to erect
a private residence, even though
it should include incidental space
to be used for Office purposes.
Tools to Be Standardized.
It was apparent today that the
varieties of wrenches, pliers,
screwdrivers and other small tools,
will be reduced to save steel and
other metals. Toolmakers met
with NPA officials yesterday and
recommended an order standard
izing the types and varieties of
tools manufactured.
NPA announced the appoint
ment Of John H. Holland, Buffalo
attorney, as general counsel to
succeed Manly Fleischmann. Mr..
Fleischmann, formerly general
counsel, was sworn in yesterday as
NPA administrator.
Oil Officials Named.
Appointments also were an
nounced of two new assistant
deputies in the Petroleum Ad-
ministration for Defense.
Alfred P. Frame, Glen Rock,
N. j., was named assistant deputy
administrator in charge of domes-
tic industry operations. C. Strig-
ling Snodgrass of Martinsburg,
w. Va, was appointed assistant
deputy in charge Of foreign petro-
leum operations.
The appointments were an
nounced by Secretary of the In
terror Chapman, who also is pc
troleum administrator. Bruce K.
Brown is deputy administrator.