Evening star., 1941-11-23
Showdown in House
On Price Control Bill
Expected This Week
Considerable Strength
Expected for 'Over-AII'
Proposal of Gore
By J. A. OLEARY.


head off initiation due to heavy de-
fense spending.
While the Democratic leadership
rallied behind the Banking Com
mittees selective plan, limited to
commodity prices and rents, ad-
vocateS of more comprehensive con-
troll were marshaling their strength
behind the overall plan of Rep
resentative Gore, Democrat, of Ten
neSsee. placing a ceiling on wages
as well as prices and rents.
On the eve of the long awaited
debate the odds appear to favor
the committee bill, but not to such
an extent as to make the result
foregone conclusion. On the con-
trary, there were signs the Gore
substitute may show surprising
strength from a combination OF
Republicans and opposition Demo-
Gratis.
G.. O. P. Conference Wednesday.
Minority Leader Martin of Massa-
ehusetts made plans last night to
call Republican conference
Wednesday morning, after the men,
bership has heard two days OF gen.
eral debate-tomOrrOW and Tues
day-on the arguments for both
solutions. BY that time the outcome
NAV be clearer than 1t was last
night. Leaders expect final action
by Friday
Mr.. Martin was not ready to COM
NIT himself yesterday on any par
ticular plan, but made the general
comment that he is for effective
price control" He made one speci-
fic suggestion: That Congress should
provide for a commission, on which
affected groups could be represent
ed, In place of an administrator.
He pointed out that five-member
commission would permit represen-
tation for industry, labor, agrlcul-
ture and the public.
Majority Leader Mccormack, dis
eussing price control, summed up
his position in this brief observa-
ton: Mr.. Gore is fine member
of the House, but I am opposed to
his bill"
Before debate starts tomorrow,
Chairman Steagall of the House
Banking Committee will endeavor to
arrange a meeting to consider one
or two last-minute changes IN the
committee bill. The chief amend
ment being discussed is to include
a provision for licensing dealers in
commodities on which the admins
traitor places a price ceiling, as an
enforcement instrument.
Selective Plan Favored.
Consideration also may be given TO
broadening the section allowing the
administrator to buy or sell COM
modify when he deems that course
necessary to effect price control.
Administration forces are expect
ed to throw their weight behind the
committees selective price-ceiling
plan. but made this comment last
night:
II believe my bill is more in con-
fornity with the Presidents mes
sage recommending price legislation
than Is the committee bill"
IN calling the attention OF Con-
press on July 80 to the necessity Of
cubing initiation during the period
Of defense spending, President
Roosevelt discussed labor costs as
well as prices and rents. He did not
ask for wage ceilings, but, after dis
cussing the need for price control
the President, near the end OF the
message, wrote:
"Of course, there cannot be price
stability If labor costs rise abnor-
mally. Labor has far more to gain
from price stability than from alb
normal wage increases. For these
are likely to be illusOry, and quickly
overtaken by sharp rises in living
costs, which fall with particular
hardship on the least fortunate OF
our workers and our old people.
Standards Being Set Up.
"Ihere will always be need for
wage adjustments from time to time
to rectify inequitable situations. But
labor as a whole will fare best from
a labor policy which recognizes that
wages in the defense industries
should not substantially exceed the
prevailing wage rates in comparable
ron-defense industries where fair
labor policies have been maintained.
Already through the efforts of the
National Defense Mediation Board
and wage stabilization committees,
wage standards are being established
and a measure of wage stability is
being brought to particular indus
tries. 1t is expected that such ac-
tivities will be continued, extended
and made increasingly effective.
II recognize that the obligation
not to seek an excessive profit from
the defense emergency rests with
equal force on labor and on indus
try, and that both must assume their
responsibilities if we are to avoid
imitation"
The committee bill does not fix
any prices, but vests in a price ad-
ministrator the authority to select
the commodities on which he con-
siders it necessary to place price
ceilings, and to determine defense
areas in which rent ceilings are ad-
visable.
In the case of farm commodities,
the committee bill places three
point limitation on the administra-
tors power. He may not fix a
ceiling on agricultural products be-
low: Cd the market price equivalent
to 110 per cent of parity; or, (2) the
market price on october /, 1941,
or, 90 the average price during
the period from July l, 1919, to June
30, 1929.
The Gore substitute takes the
other approach of applying ceilings
generally, and giving the admins
traitor discretion to order exemptions
where he deems ceilings unnecessary
on prices, wages or rents. In the
case of wages the ceiling would
apply to all employers of eight OF
more persons. Wage differentials
In different localities would not be
disturbed.
AS originally drafted, the Gore
plan also sought to limit and re-
capture excess profits, but it ha.
become necessary to eliminate thi:
feature to make the measure ger
name as a substitute in the House