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b. The mission of the price control division is primarily investigation of and recommendations concerning

(1) Just and reasonable prices to be established for the products of war industries.

(2) Just and reasonable prices to be paid by war industries for materials, labor, and services.

(3) Policies and methods to be employed in the administration of price-control measures.

(4) Just compensation to be allowed in cases of commandeering and requisitioning.

c. The administration and enforcement of price-control policies and measures by appropriate control methods is a responsibility of the control divisions through the agencies at their command.

For further information concerning price-control agencies see appendix VI.

2. Research division.

a. The research division supplies the technical personnel to conduct surveys and studies, and submits reports on technical questions arising in the operations of the other divisions of the administration. It acts in an advisory capacity in the various functions pertaining to the entire office. More specifically it will supervise research in connection with--

(1) Conservation of critical and strategic raw materials.
(2) Substitutes for critical and strategic raw materials.

(3) Improvement in industrial practices and processes em-
ployed by war industries.

(4) Technical aspects of enemy industry.

b. The continuous peace-time studies of the commodity committees of the War and Navy Departments will indicate the more pressing problems requiring the early attention of the research division.

c. The division will have no research or experimental facilities directly under its control. It will arrange for any required scientific research, engineering research, or process development through existing agencies, which may include War, Navy, and other Federal Departments and agencies, State agencies, educational institutions, industrial establishments, trade associations, engineering and scientific societies, and endowed research institutions.

3. Public relations division.

The mission of this division is to furnish a central agency for the dissemination to the public of official, educational, and informative material in support of the policies and methods involved in the Administration of War Industries.

The chief of the division represents the Administrator of War Industries on the advisory committee in the office of the Administrator of Public Relations.

Methods and policies for the coordination of national publicity activities are shown in appendix IV.

SECTION G. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

This division will perform the usual administrative duties. A suggested organization of the division is shown on the chart facing page 360.

1. General.

SECTION H.-CONTROL DIVISIONS

The control divisions under the Administrator of War Industries are organized primarily to administer the established industrial control policies approved by the Administrator. They will, in addition, administer certain control policies originating in other duly authorized governmental war control agencies, such as the Advisory Defense Council or the chairman of the Price Control Committee.

The chiefs of the control divisions will exercise full control, under direction of the Administrator, of the commodities or services falling within the purview of their responsibilities.

As the War and Navy Departments are charged with the responsibility for the preparation of plans and policies for industrial mobilization, these two Departments will provide the trained officer personnel required to assist in the initiation and execution of these plans and policies upon the declaration of war. One officer from each Department will remain on duty in each of the control divisions to represent their respective Departments. Other governmental agencies interested in specific commodities or services will be represented as conditions warrant.

The control divisions will be concerned primarily with the administration of approved priorities policies, creation of new facilities and opening of sources of supply, conversion of existing facilities where necessary to new uses, allocation of facilities and apportionment, where necessary, of materials and services, conservation of resources and facilities, and the administration of approved price-control policies.

The control divisions in coordinating procurement will continually recognize the responsibility of established governmental procuring agencies and will leave to them the greatest freedom of action and initiative consistent with the necessary coordination.

2. Commodities division.

a. Functions.-The functions of this division are exercised through commodity committees. These functions are

(1) To ascertain the probable total requirements.

(2) To assure timely supply of critical and strategic raw ma-
terials to war industries and essential industries.
(3) To anticipate possible shortages in production of com-
modities.

(4) To control the distribution of the stocks or available sup-
plies in conformity with the determined priorities.
(5) To investigate and recommend the scales of prices at which
essential materials may be sold and to administer price-
control measures in accordance with established policies.
(6) To prepare and supervise the execution of regulations re-
lating to the sale and production of commodities.
(7) To encourage the use of other materials by less essential
industries where necessary to prevent the possibility of
a shortage of critical and strategic materials.

(8) To ascertain the needs of industries engaged in producing
critical and strategic materials, and find means to sat-
isfy them.

(9) To be acquainted with manufacturing methods and processes involved in the production of essential materials. (10) To determine available sources of supply and important

factors affecting the production rate, stocks on hand, and similar questions bearing on quantities available. (11) To initiate measures to stimulate the production of those essential materials in which a shortage might occur. (12) To demand information as to stocks, production, and consumption from persons, companies, societies or others interested.

(13) To check this information by demanding copies of records or other necessary documents.

b. Commodity committees.-Commodity committees are composed of a chairman appointed by the Chief of the commodities division, representatives of the Army and the Navy and other interested governmental agencies having war requirements, and such technical assistants as may be necessary. The power of decision is vested in the chairman, under direction of the chief of the division. Sufficient committees will be organized to take cognizance of all commodities over which control is necessary.

c. Methods.

(1) The allocation of raw materials may be made to war industry and to other essential industries. These allocations shall be based upon the priorities accorded the products of these industries. This control may be readily effected by a system of permits in which a commodity committee will certify the amounts of strategic and critical raw materials to which any industry may be entitled. The actual distribution may be made or controlled by the Commodity Committee, by a Government agency, or by any other designated agency such as a trade association. The agency designated for the distribution shall approve the individual permits submitted by consumers in accordance with the limitations established by the Commodity Committee, and shall control the custody of all or a designated portion of all supplies received either from domestic sources or through importations. Producers and importers will be required to conform to the rules of the commodities division as to the control of supplies and the distribution methods decided upon. Examples of different methods which may be established as practiced during the World War are cited as being applicable to different commodities. These illustrate the forms of control that could be exercised in connection with any commodity.

(a) Mercury.-The Navy Department was designated as the purchasing agency for all supplies of mercury to be used by Government consumers and contractors. The producers and importers were required to sell a minimum stated percentage to the Navy Department; the percentage being changed from time to time according to supplies made available and to Government requirements. The various

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