The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-11-27
AFL Fuvors Price

tCOnfnued from rage OHeJ
are not enough. Nearly every major
country of the world has been forced
to control prices.
"Under these emergency conditions
we feel that price control legislation
is essential. We believe that such
legislation should be for the emer-
gency only.
"Price control legislation should ap-
ply only to prices of commodities and
rents. Compensation paid by an en-
ployer for services of his employees,
commissions, fees, ct cetera, as we'll
as profits, should be specifically ex-
cluded from the measure. This posi-
ton is in line with the principle adopt
ed by Congress nearly three decades
ago That the labor power Of human
being is not commodity or article of
commerce. This principle is basic in
assuring to wage earners freedom of
opportunity to promote their material
welfare.
"The United States Government has
also underwritten the principle that
wages should be determined between
employers and employees by collective
bargaining. Wages require adjustment
as costs of living rise rapidly and as
productivity increases. Price control
should eliminate the first factor but
cannot deal with the second. Produc-
tivity has been increasing at the rate
of three per cent annually since 1919,
and employers should agree upon just
compensation for additionally valuable
services. Price control stabilizing
prices, will limit and stabilize indus
| trial earnings out of which profits
and wages are paid. This type of in
direct restriction will definitely re-
tard initiation without interfering with
fundamental rights of human freedom.
"Price control should be designed 20
prevent prices essential to living and
defense purposes from rising out of
line. 1t is unnecessary to freeze all
prices since many commodities are so
abundant that they will not rise un-
duly in price, and others are luxuries
which may be forgone if the prices
rise to a prohibitive point. To freeze
all prices as Of a given date would
work many inequalities and would
present an administrative problem of
unmanageable proportions. Fixing a
ceiling on individual prices as they
show a tendency to move up will be
an easier job administratively than
freezing all prices and will more ef
fectively prevent initiation in cost Of
living.
"The real need is for a ceiling on
basic materials and products which
are important to the cost of living and
the promotion of defense production.
"It has been customary practice of
the American Federation of Labor not
to interject our views into situations
that concern farmers primarily. In the
matter of price control, however, we
realize that the heart of price stabil-
zation lies in controlling prices of
foods which are basic items in the
costs of living. We therefore urge
ceilings for prices of agricultural
commodities when they reach a point
which shall unduly increase costs of
living.
eve approve as method to enforce
compliance with price ceilings which
apply to widely dispersed commodities
a licensing system which relates only
to violations of orders prescribing
price ceilings and does not designate
which of the present dealers may sell
the article, or prevent anyone from
undertaking to sell it at the legal
price. The American Federation of
Labor is not adverse to this method Of
price control for the emergency. Con-
troll should rest in the power to re-
woke the license for proved violation
of the price ceiling, thus prohibiting
the guilty dealer from selling that
particular article for which he has eX
ceeded the price set. 1t must not ex
tend to refusal of license to new deal
ers or prohibit any present seller from
continuing to do business except as he
may be restrained from dealing in q
particular commodity or commodities
by having his license revoked for ex-
ceeding their price ceilings.
"The American Federation of Labor
believes that in the administration of
price control there should be an adj
visory representative committee in
which labor shall have representation
of it's own choosing.
"The procedure and opportunities
for appeal, provided by H. r. 5479, as
introduced by Representative Steagall
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