Baruch on Rubber

Elder Statesman Bernard Mannes Baruch had completed his investigation of the rubber scandal; at week's end he sat down to write a short, terse summary of the facts. Official Washington heard that he would report a welter of confusion and mismanagement in early handling of the shortage. He might be persuaded to soft-pedal all that, but he would state flatly that the situation is now so critical that all pleasure driving should be eliminated and automobiles used only for essential business. He and his brainy colleagues, James Bryant Conant and Karl Taylor Compton, had also looked at the synthetic-rubber program finally gotten under way by WPB (TIME, July 20) and found it good. He was expected to recommend:

> That WPB's synthetic program be followed in every detail.

> That a rubber tsar be appointed to carry out the program, serve as final authority on all problems, direct rationing and conservation.

> An immediate conservation campaign, including strict enforcement of low driving speeds.

> Nationwide gasoline rationing.

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