More Questions and Answeru on Conservation Order L-41

Following are replies received from William V. Kahler, chief of the Construction Branch, War Production Board, in respect to specific questions submitted to the War Production Board by the National Retail Lumber Dealers' Association.

Question 1: May farm buildings (other than houses) which have been destroyed since December 31, 1941, by an act of God, fire, flood, etc., be restored to the same extent as Conservation Order L-41 permits the restoration of residential construction destroyed since December 31, 1941, by the aforesaid agencies?

Answer: Specific authorization to begin construction is necessary before one can reconstruct farm buildings, other than houses, destroyed by an act of God, fire, flood, etc., after December 31, 1941.

Question 2: Does every application for authority to begin construction have to go to Washington, or can it be acted upon by the Regional Ofifice of the War Production Board and the necessary permission granted?

Answer: Authorizations to begin construction are granted only in Washington. The regional Offices of the War Production Board have not this power.

Question 3: With regard to farm construction, who should be contacted as the representative of the Department of Agriculture in order to secure permission to commence construction of farm buildings costing more than $1,000.00?

Answer: Applications to begin construction of agricultural buildings should be filed with the local Department of Agricultural War Board.

Question 4: What remedy is available to a dealer who has refused an order which he believes is to be used in a job being built in violation of L-41, and the same order is taken by another dealer who makes delivery thereof ? When, and by what methods, will L-41 be enforced ?

Answer: A dealer may report anyone who is violating Conservation Order No. L-41 to the War Production Board. The Order will be enforced by the Compliance Division of the Board with the cooperation of various other governmental agencies.

Question 5: Can a farmer build a horse barn costing $900.m and, within the same twelve-month period, build a hog house costing $600.00?

Answer: A farmer cannot build a horse barn costing $900.00 and a hog house costing $600.00 within the same twelve-month period without specific authorization, because the barn and hog house are construed to be part of the same agricultural project.

Question 6: What is the correlation between Conservation Order L-79 and, Conservation Order L-41, and how are the two Orders to be reconciled ?

Answer: There is no repugnance between Conservation Order L-41 and Conservation Order L-79. L-41 generally restricts building. L-79 limits the delivery of plumbing and heating equipment to any except those who can obtain a priority rating. It is possible that one might be authorized to begin construction under L-41 and then be unable to get plumbing and heating equipment. L-41 is particularly aimed at the person who has his essential materials on hand and needs no priority assistance. It is also designed to discourage the person who bootlegs material and in the absence of this Order could proceed without priority assistance.

Comment: We do not consider this an answer to the problem of making Conservation Order L-41 and Conservation Order L-79 consistent. It is the understanding of this office that those in charge of the administration of Order L-79 are now considering amendments which will make the administration of the Order consistent with the permissions ot L-41,

Question 7: Is free labor considered a part of the costs of a building or project? ',

Answer: Free labor, such as work performed by the owner of the building or by neighbors participating in a barn raising does not have to be included in determining the "cost" of construction under Conservation Order L-41. Thus, if a structure is erected entirely without labor cost, the "cost" need not include any labor factor.