Show Nelson Reported Ready to Clip Military's Priority Powers WASHINGTON Aug 27 MP Chairman JP-Chairman Chairman Donald M. M Nelson of the war production board was reported report rd Thursday 1 to pave have notified notified notified noti noti- fied the armed services service's s he is withdrawing from their hundreds of procurement offices over the country the power to grant priority ratings This first major result of Nels Nel's Nelsons Nelson's Nel Nel- s 's sons son's nci ed get tough policy in dealing with the materials s shortage Is is i expected ted to be announced announced announced an an- formally within 24 hours it t was disclosed by a W P B official official official cial who requested his name be withheld The action will give W P B sole control over the issuance of priority priority priority ratings plugging a major loophole in the effort to balance short supplies against demands for materials by the army and navy and essential civilian users Nelsons Nelson's decision was conveyed to o the armed services service in in letters to Undersecretary of ot War Robert bert P. P P P. Patterson Undersecretary of the Navy James V. V Forrestal and Ferdinand Eberstadt chairman of ot the navy army-navy munitions board it was said Nelson has been in frequent consultation consultation consultation con con- with the three for several days working out details of the order expected to be issued shortly over the signature of Amory Houghton W V P B director general for operations At present all army and navy procurement officers and inspectors inspectors inspectors tors who have authority to sign contracts also have power to as assign assign assign as- as sign automatic priority ratings for forthe forthe forthe the necessary materials even down downto to 10 pounds of nails |