Executive Order 9493—Authorizing and Directing the Secretary of the Navy to Take Possession of the Plants and Facilities of the Lord Manufacturing Company, Located at Erie, Pennsylvania

Whereas the Lord Manufacturing Company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of war materials essential to the procurement programs of the War Department and the Navy Department; and

Whereas the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy on September 23, 1944, acting under and pursuant to section 801 of the Revenue Act of 1943, issued to the Lord Manufacturing Company an order fixing fair and reasonable prices for the said war materials and prohibiting the company from changing its terms or conditions of sale in any way that would Increase the return to the said company above the prices fixed by the said order; and

Whereas the Lord Manufacturing Company has changed the terms and conditions of sale of the said war materials in such a way as to increase the return to the said company above the prices fixed in the said order and has wilfully refused and failed to furnish the said war materials at the prices fixed by the said order; and

Whereas the conduct of the Lord Manufacturing Company has Interfered with the production and supply of aircraft parts and other essential war materials for the use of the armed forces and now threatens to interfere with the effective prosecution of the war; and

Whereas the effective conduct of the war requires that immediate steps be taken to insure the continued production and delivery of the said war materials produced in the plants of the Lord Manufacturing Company; and

Whereas it is deemed essential that the plants and facilities of the Lord Manufacturing Company located at Erie, Pennsylvania, together with any other facilities and property owned by the said company and used in connection with the operation thereof be taken over for use and operation by the United States of America in order that the said plants, facilities, and property may be effectively operated In the manufacture of the said war materials:

Now, Therefore, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, Including Title Vm of the Revenue Act of 1943 and section 9 of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as amended, as President of the United States and Commander In Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

1. The Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized and directed to take possession of the plant and facilities of the Lord Manufacturing Company, located at Erie, Pennsylvania, and, to the extent that he may deem necessary, of any facilities, real or personal property, or other assets wherever situated, owned by the said company and used in connection with the operation of the said plant and facilities In Erie County or with the production, sale, or distribution of the said products; and to operate or to arrange for the operation thereof in such manner as he deems necessary for the successful prosecution of the war, and to do all things necessary for or incidental to the production, sale, or distribution of the products of the said company.

2. The Secretary of the Navy may exercise the authority herein conferred through and with the aid of such person or persons, corporations, and instrumentalities as he may designate, and may select and hire such employees and agents as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this order; and in furtherance of the purposes of this order the Secretary of the Navy may exercise any contractual or other rights of said company incident to the operation of said plant, facilities, or property or the production, sale, and distribution of the company\'s products and may take such other steps as may be necessary or desirable.

3. Possession, control, and operation of any plant, facilities, or property or portion thereof of which possession is taken under this order shall be terminated by the Secretary of the Navy upon his determination that the said plant, facilities, or property or portion thereof will thereafter be operated in a manner consistent with the effective prosecution of the war.

FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT

The White House,
October 24, 1944.