First Punishment

The first priority violator to be caught (TIME, Oct. 20) received its punishment last week. The victim: Chicago's Central Pattern and Foundry Co., found guilty of using its priority rating to buy illegally 6,075 Ib. of aluminum scrap from Milwaukee Scrap Metal Co., 19,530 Ib. from Brodey Brothers; and of illegally selling for non-defense uses 2,739 Ib. of aluminum to Farnsworth Telephone & Radio Co. (jukebox castings), 8,787 Ib. to 0. D. Jennings Co. (coin machines), 17,199 Ib. to Mills Novelty Co. (coin machines), 5,613 Ib. to Haywood Wakefield Co. (railroad-coach seat parts), 3,962 Ib. to Eastman Kodak Co. (Kodak parts), 3,149 Ib. to Filtex Corp. (vacuum-cleaner castings).

Central Pattern's punishment: suspension of its aluminum operations until

March 31, 1942, except for defense orders already started, which will require 288,000 Ib. Because the company also fabricates brass and zinc products, some of its 250 employes will still work.

Said Company President Frank P. Battle: "I believe the Government is all wet."

Warned Priorities Director Donald M. Nelson: "We're going to take every action ... we can take to bring compliance."

Some 1,800 other companies, including Central Pattern's customers and suppliers, are under investigation.

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