The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1941-11-27
Is THIS
THE AMERICAN WAY?

We would like you to read three
paragraphs from the proposed price
control bill, now in congress, add
the three together and see what
you get.
While reading them, bear in mind
that the purpose of the bill is to
further defense, prevent initiation
and price dislocations by regulating
prices of virtually everything, ex-
cept wages and prices charged by
public utilities, which are already
regulated.
Here's the first of our three par
agraphs, taken from the bill:
whenever in the Judgment of
the president such action is nee
essary or proper in order to effect
uate the purposes of this act, he
may on behalf of the United States
without regard to any provision of
law requiring competitive bidding,
buy, store, or use, or sell at public
or private sale, any commodity
upon such terms as he shall deem
necessary to obtain the maximum
necessary production of marginal
or high cost producers, or to pre-
vent price increases inconsistent
with the purposes of this act"
Then read this paragraph:
whenever reference is made in
this act to the president, such ref
erence shall include, in addition to
the president, any department,
agency, officer, or employe, desig-
mated or appointed by the presi-
dent for the execution of any
power, authority, or discretion
vested in the president by this
act"
Then read this:
'tNo person shall he held liable
for damages or penalties in any
federal, state, or territorial court,
on any grounds for or in respect
of anything done or omitted to be
done in good faith pursuant to any
provision of this act or any regu-
lation, order, or requirement there
under, Notwithstanding that sub
sequently such provision, regula-
ton order, or requirement may he
modified, rescinded, or determined
to be invalid"
1t should be understood, of
course, that the president may is
sue an order or regulations what
ever Gas he may deem necessary
to carry out the purposes of
this act" .
Add these three paragraphs to-
gether, and what do you get?
According to our arithmetic,
you have empowered one man, the
president. to do anything whatever
regarding any business, industry
or groups of business and industries,
that he may want to. You have
moreover, given him the further
right to delegate this all inclusive
power to any number of people or
agencies that he might choose, un-
til the country will swarm with tom
tit presidents in every county. You
have, in addition to this, relieved
any of these tom-tit presidents from
any responsibility for their acts,
unless you can prove downright dis
honesty and corruption.
ALI right.
ouG yOu soy, we iuuSL pTtVe1C H.
flation. What have we to suggest?
Well ask you another: Do you,
who went through the maze of the
MIRA, have any reason to believe that
the MIRA, multiplied Ilundredfold,
will accomplish anything by way of
economic stability other than dis
rupt the entire nation? Have you
any reason to suspect, in view of our
experiences, that any man or group
Of men are so endowed with wisdom |
and knowledge that, by edict, they |
can regulate every phase of business
and industry and thereby create
economic stability?
These questions answer themselves.
This bill sets up, in the frame
work of democracy, an actual dictat-
Il