The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-11-06
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C1VfS'.ssEsHISN IS
WASHINGTON
Staff Correspondent

banking and currency commlttee
have stressed the need for drastic
price ceilings and probably wage
control if we hope to avoid SKY
rocketing of prices. But despite
this testimony, there are few mere
who think the committee or con-
gress will do anything much
about it.
It is the consensus Of opinion IN
congressional circles that price
ceiling bill will be passed-Dut
that it will merely be "tace-sav-
ing" measure lacking the drastlc
provisions necessary to do an ade-
ouate lob. The only other alterna.
five seems to be the possibility OF
swing the President complete
control over prices and perhaps
over wages-thus passing the
buck to the President.
Congressman are plainly "or-
r;ed about all proposals for price
or wage control. Those form the
farm areas have orders from back
home to prevent any ceiling on
farm nrices. Those from industrl-
a districts have been told IN no
uncertain terms that organized Ia
bor won't tolerate curbs on Wag-
pc Together, the representatives.
of these two groups have enough
strength to control the passage or
defeat of any proposed measure
The only way that a measure
with teeth in it can be forced
through congress is if the Presl-
dent himself demands passage OF
sound legislation. Already he has
made it plain that price control IS
needed Immediately - but 1t IS
probable that he will have to put
lot of pressure behind this re-
quest in ordey to get legislation
which he considers adequate.
Although the President has OPP
posed wage control, public de-
mand for more curbs on union &C
tivities and for "no-strike" legis-
lation may stimulate action to
control wages. The public has
made it plain that it wants labor
activities controlled - the whole
nation having been frightened
over John L. Lewis willingness
to consider the closed shop and
union demands more important
than continuation of defense pro-
duction.
IF the threat of marked infla-
ton is as close as present price
rises and expert opinion indicates
the delay on price legislation, and
the possible ignoring Of wage
control, will probably cost the
public billions of dollars in in
creased cost of living.
Meanwhile, plans for spending
many more billions than were
originally planned for our defense
program are being completed.
Studies made of the war in Rus
STA seem to have convinced the
administration that the war must
be won with tanks and compre-
hensive plan has been worked out
to double or triple the rate of
production of tanks.
Figures on cost are banded
about to such an extent that they
are becoming almost meaningless,
but it has been said by some Of
ficials that, over a period of three
to five years, plans now in the
making may send our defense bill
as high as $24O,0O0,0O0,000. In less
astronomical terms, that means
the government would eventual
ly have to collect an average of
about $4,000 from every man, wo-
man and child in America.
In addition to tanks, the new
plans will call for a great in
crease in plane production and in
the size of our air force. The ar
my already has announced plans
for expanding its air force so that
it will include 100000 pilots and
technicians by June 80 and even
tually will reach 100000.
Congress seems to be in a mood
to pass any appropriation bill
which is presented with the ode
tense" label on it, so proposals by
the President for expenditure OF
additional billions will undoubt-
edly be approved with little oppo-
sition.
Some congressman, however,
are grumbling over the use which
is being made of our vast defense
and lend-lease funds and it can
be expected that there will be
some Tightening up on the certain
expenditures. Several, for exam
ole, have demanded that food sent
to Great Britain should be paid
for in cash, since it is pointed out
that the food is sold for cash to
the people of Britain and there
is no reason why we should sup
ply food free so that British dis
tributors can make all the pro-