Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-15
New Dealers
Shipping at
Arms Chiefs
New Explosion in OPM
Expected Shortly
BY PAUL MALL0N

BY PAUL MALL0N
WASHINGTON. April 15.-Mr
W Roosevelt tossed out the
idea he is not entirely satisfied
with defense production but left
the notion hanging in mid-air.
When il lands shortly you are
likely to hear another explosion
in OPM.
The President is supposed to
be taking South with HIM sug-
gestions by his New Deal add
visers for further alterations IN
the setup. particularly as to per-
sonnet. The advisers expect him
to act upon his return.
Conversationally, the RooSe-
welt lads have been shooting at
the dollar-a-year business men
again lately. The head men, Mr..
Stettinius. and even Mr.. Knud-
sen, have not escaped, although
they have suffered less from the
inside bombardment than their
business associates further down
the line.
Resignation talk has been easy
10 hear but hard to confirm and
lack any impressive substantial
ton.
WHAT more the New Dealers
w could possibly want out of
defense will be hard 10 imagine.
FDR'S designation OF Leon Hen
derSon to create a vast new eco
nomic control system alongside
OPM forecast in detail in these
letters of February 3. March
10, 81 and April and - repre-
SentS the final victory OF the
New Deal over business and eco
Monies of this country.
The purNiew of HendcrSon's
"office of price administration
and civilian supply called
OPAX) can be found IN the
Presidents. executive order Gre
ating It. and the official an
nouncement. Initial publicity
bore down on the point that II IS
10 restrain prices, solely by vol
.untary cooperation. but this Is
misleading and minor detail Of
IFS scope
TIVE official handout says II
Il VIII also insure the neceS-
sary supply of goods for civilian
requirements and see that
there is an equitable distribu-
ton Of the materials and COM
modities available for civilian
uSe'--which just about covers
everything
lis powers 10 impose "Volun-
iary cooperation may not be
as great as those by which some
dictators have secured reluctant
cooperation but the results viii
be the same.
The handout mentions that
any one who does not accept the
VIII of the OPAX voluntarily can
have his plant seized by the gov
eminent tt comedies tins can
only be done in connection with
army and navy orders now, bat
when Mr.. Roosevelt declares a
full emergency the limitation will
diSappearl can find his products
barred from Interstate COM
mcrce by the ICC. may have ms
products seized by the govern
ment if the PreSident denies
them export licenses and requisi-
TONS them
Above all he Will find himself
subject to all the adverse re-
action which a publicity-con-
Scious government can muster
against him.
GONE legal doubts might pos
y Sibly be cast upon the au-
ihcnticity of these powers, eSpc-
cially as Senator Taft * already
protesting because the President
set up this organization by eX-
ocutive order without specific
authority from Congress. but
As far as the ordinary buSi-
ness man is concerned. the only
choice OPAX presents for him is
10 he voluntary or retire from
business.
Henderson says his interest in
prices gives him an interest in
wages because these influence
prices He Is against any IN
creases. thinks all prices should
come down. which surely IN
cludcS steel.
4 NY wage increase viii have
Il 10 be paid by a price m
crease But any price increase
must be paid by tho public
either through increased cost of
defense contracts or IN the price
of automobiles and finished steel
products
Henderson showed no inclina-
ton 10 touch the electric horns
of this dilemma, and the general
impression here is that his con-
Germ over price increases will
not be matched by similar zeal
against wagc-fncreases.
Distributed by King Features synd Inc
ReproductIon in whole ar in part
strictly prohibited.
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