OCR Text |
Show care for this increased population. The million and a hall workers work-ers in the building industry that are to lose their jobs will not be thrown out overnight. They will gradually lose their jobs sometime in the next few months as the supply of finished fin-ished building supplies give out in the various communities communi-ties all over the country. But the building industry is only one of those that is being affected by metal shortages. The automobile automo-bile industry, for example, is being curtailed by 50 per cent. In fact, the outlook for all industries requiring vital metals me-tals is one of close governmental govern-mental supervision. For Mr. Nelson admitted that priorities priori-ties is not the answer to the distribution of defense mater- lals. In the not too distant future, we can probably look for the government govern-ment to ration out vital metals to various industries and also to ration ra-tion out these industries' finished products. t ti l I .lulHlMlnH-lMll-l . i: Intnl. i..ii:Iii..MIJ FORWARDjli MARCH By H. S. Sims, Jr. 1 . 1, in. 1. 1. 1. 111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 in NELSON CRACKS DOWN ON "BOOTLEGGERS" AS S.P.A.B. MOVES TOWARD CLOSER SUPERVISION OF VITAL METAL INDUSTRIES When President Roosevelt reshuffled re-shuffled high defense officials some weeks ago, there was considerable con-siderable speculation whether the newly formed SPAB would take decisive action to enforce its overall over-all power. This speculation ended, however, how-ever, when Donald Nelson, director di-rector of priorities in SPAB, iHSucd an order on October 16 which will shut down a Chicago Chica-go concern for several months. The Central Pattern and Foundry Foun-dry company was charged with "bootlegging" scarce aluminum; the company was delaying the defense de-fense program by diverting much-needed much-needed aluminum from defense production to fill orders for "juke box" castings, coin operated machines, ma-chines, railroad seat parts, and kodak ko-dak and vacuum cleaner parts. The action of the SPAB In prohibiting this company to engage in aluminum operations opera-tions until March 31, 1942, shows that the government is prepared to take action against violators. "Don't think for a moment," said Mr. Nelson, Nel-son, "that this is an isolated case. It is just the beginning." Mr. Nelson's excellent record in OPM, previous to his appointment at priorities director, is sufficient evidence to prove that he is capable cap-able of coping with "bootlegging" business men. If "bootleggers" are not brought in line, the serious shortage which SPAB officials admit exists in structural steel, copper, bronze, brass, and aluminum will become even more critical. The seriousness of the shortages in the above metals has been brought out by the recent action of SPAB in putting bans on building build-ing materials. All building in the United States is to be stopped except ex-cept that which is essential to national na-tional defense. Putting a curb on building will put a million and a half laborers out of work. But this is not the only effect of SPAB'S ban on building. People Peo-ple in general will not be able to build, not be able to expand their activities; and in many localities new schools, churches church-es and hospitals cannot be built. In a discussion with a number of senators, Mr. Nelson disclosed that ordinary small homes can still be built, because there is not much in them but wood and plaster. plas-ter. Copper pipes can not be used in these homes, but steel is not so short that there won't be enough steel pipe for the average small home. "However," states Mr. Nelson, Nel-son, "we don't want to chew up necessary critical materials mater-ials in big homes." SPAB'S ruling is flexible enough to permit building to continue in areas that have grown up as a result re-sult of defense spending. Areas that have new problems as a result re-sult of a greatly increased population popula-tion will be allowed to build new schools, hospitals and churches to |