White House Press Release, Executive Order Number 9685

43 # 481 IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 24, 1946 EXECUTIVE ORDER 9685 AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO TAKE POSSESSION OF AND OPERATE CERTAIN PLANTS AND FACILITIES USED IN THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, TRANSPORTATION, SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF LIVES TOCK, MEAT, MEAT PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS WHEREAS after invostigation I find and proclaim that as a result of existing and threatened strikes and other labor disturbances there are interruptions in the operation of plants and facilitios used in the production, processing, transportation, sale or distribution of livestock, meat, meat products and by-products (including but not limited to those plants and facilities designated in the attached list); that the war effort will be unduly impeded or delayed by such interruptions; and that the exorcise, as hereinafter specified, of the powers vestod in me is necessary to insure, in the interest of the war effort, the opera- tion of each of those plants and facilities: NARA NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the power and authority vested in mo by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including Section 9 of the Seloctive Sorvice Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 892) as amended by the War Labor Disputes Act (57 Stat. 163), 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 Socretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to take possession of the plants and facilities described in the first paragraph of this order whore there is any such interruption (including but not limited to those plants and facilitios designatod in the attached list), or such part or parts of each of such plants and facilities as he deems necessary, and to the extent he may doom necessary; to take posses- sion of any roal or personal property and other assets, wherever situated, used in connection with the operation of such plants and facilities; and to operate or to arrange for the uso and operation of such plants and facilities in any manner that he deams necessary in the interest of the war effort. 2. In furtherance of the purposes of this order, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to select and hire such employees and agents as ho deems necessary and suitable to carry out the provisions of this order; to oxerciso any contractual or other rights of the owners of said plants, facilities, and property incident to the oporation of said plants, facilities and proporty or the production, processing, transportation, salo, or distrubition of the products and services thereof; to do any and all other things that he may deem necessary or desirable for, or incidental to, the uso and operation of said plants, facilitios, and property, or the production, processing, transportation, sale, or distribution of the products and services thereof; and to take any other stops that he deems necessary to carry out the provisions and purposes of this ordor. 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall operate the plants, facilitios, and property mentioned herein under the terms and conditions of employment lawfully in effect at the timo possession of such plants, facilities, and property is taken under this order, until and unless the duly authorized federal agencies shall, with the approval of the President, otherwise direct. 4. The Secrotary of Agriculture may permit, upon such terms and conditions as he deems advisable, the management of the plants, facilitios, and property taken under this order to continue its managerial functions to the extent consistent with the purposes of this order. (OVER)