Evening star., 1941-07-06
Roosevelt Expected
To Act in Row on
liking Law
Congress Aides Oppose
Legislation Sought
By Henderson
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
A usually well-informed member
of Congress said yesterday that
President Roosevelt probably would
settle this week a controversy be-
tween administration officials and
leaders on Capitol Hill over the
question OF enacting price fixing
legislation.
This informant said Leon Hender-
son, chief of the Government price
fixing setup. was urging Mr.. RooSe-
welt to recommend mandatory price
fixing to Congress promptly. Mr.
Henderson recently said the hon.
eymoon is over" so far as voluntary
Government-induStry cooperation
to fix prices was concerned.
At the Capitol. it was reported
that some White House heutenants
wanted the President to delay any
recommendation for price fixing.
They believed, it was said. the legis-
lation would stir up a long Senate
controversy and prevent a projected
rest period for the chamber while
the House is working on the new
tax bill.
The question of whether the leg
islation will be sought Immediately
may be turned out at a. conference
tomorrow between the President and
his congressional leaders.
Republicans Reported Opposed.
Senator Hill of Alabama, the act
ing majority leader. told reporters
that any price measure undoubtedly
will be pretty thoroughly gone
into, but in the final analysis the
Congress probably would take favor
able action"
1T is a very far-reaching and
complicated question" Senator Hill
added. "and I have heard nothing
to indicate that it would be brought
up at once"
Senate Republicans were reported
by one of their number to be almost
solidly opposed to granting the
administration a free hand to fix
prices, and a bloc of farm State
legislators already is at work to
block any such proposal.
The farm group, led by Chairman
Smith of the Senate Agriculture
Committee, adopted a resolution
last week stating that Government
efforts at price fixing should be
delayed until definite policy has
been adopted by Congress"
Mr.. Henderson and other price
officials conferred with House lead
ers last week. The House group
was reported to have fatty rejected
suggested legislation.
G. M. Not to Raise Prices.
Meantime General Motors Corp.
notified the Government that it will
not raise prices on 1941 automobiles,
the Off1ce of Price Administration
and Civilian Supply announced yes
terday. The current model year
ends July 81.
Price Administrator Henderson
said officials of the company would
meet with o. P. A. C. S. representa-
tives in about two weeks to discuss
prices on 1912 models.
Mr.. Henderson. who recently asked
automotive manufacturers not to
increase prices without consulting
his Office, said General Motors was
setting an example which should
be followed by other companies. not
only in that industry, but all others
where there is pressure for price in
creases."
The Chrysler Corp. has refused to
rescind recently announced price in
creases, and the Ford Motor Co. is
comforting with o. P. A. C. S. on
the question of withholding pro-
posed increases.
Three other companies which
scheduled price -Kelvi-
nator, Studebaker Corp. and Hudson
Motor Car-Were released from Mr..
Henderson's request after Chrysler
had refused.