Lumber Not Subiect to 15% Reduction lor Gove]nmcnt Departments

Washington, D. C., Aug. 14.-Continued rnisunderstanding on the part of government purchasing agents of Executive Order 6646, which stated that individuals might submit bids at not more than 15 per'cent under prices filed by bidders with code authorities, has led Carl W. Bahr, secretary and treasurer of the Lumber Code Authority, to request NRA Deputy Administrator A. C. Dixon to advise governmental purchasing offices that the order does not apply to the Lumber Code. Notwithstanding that following issuance of the order it was explained that the order is applicable only to those industries operating under codes which require filing of open price lists with their code authorities, the Lumber Code Authority has continued to receive numerous ,complaints that purchasing agents of various government departments and establishments are inviting bids from members of the lumber industry on the basis of the reduction.

Similarly the Department of Purchases of New York City, in requesting bids for Ponderosa Pine boxes on July 9, attached a copy of the Executive Order to the proposal. In the hope of stopping this practice where lumber purchases are concerned, the LCA Compliance Depattment recently addressed a letter to the department explaining the non-applicability of the order to the lumber industry and suggesting that the practice of attaching copies of the order to proposals for bids "can only lead to misunderstanding and possibly to code violations when manufacturers of lumber or lumber products are involved."

Employment lmproves in Pacific Northwest

Washington, August 22.-Employment conditions in the Pacific Northwest show no little improvement over those of mid-July, according to the mid-August employment report of the Loyal Legion of Loggers and Lumbermen.

Practically all large sawmills have resumed cutting, the Legion states although in most districts only about 25 per cent of logging camps are operating.

The 4L attributes the improvement to seasonal work, as well as to the general pick-up following the longshoremen's strike. Due to an early harvest, fruit picking and canning is furnishing temporary employment to both men and women, while Federal and state constru,ction projects, including the coast bridges, are also furnishing considerable employment.