The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-04-24
(By Staff Writer)
KEEPING PRICES DOWN

OOOA, ID CAPOSICO W 11oNO AAAo
hands full in preventing infla-
tionary price rises, but the pow
ers conferred upon him are con-
sidered sufficient to stave off any
immediate price boom.
The office of price administra-
ton and civilian supply, which is
the name of the office Mr.. Hen
derson heads, is authorized to fix
prices if necessary and to prevent
products from being withheld
from the market for speculative
purposes. The chief duty Of the
new office is to see that we do
not have a repetition of the inf1a-
ton and supply problems which
disrupted our economy during the
last war.
The President believes that
slight increases in prices are ex-
pected and not undesirable, but
he wants to prevent any spiral
ing of prices which are out OF pro-
portion to increased purchasing
power. A 10 per cent increase in
prices during the next year will
probably be permitted, but great
er increases will be fought.
Hr. Henderson will probably
use persuasion rather than give
orders at first in an effort to
keep price control on a voluntary
basis, but his office will be pre-
pared to take quick action If vol
untary control gets out Of hand.
During the last six months our
national purchasing power has in
creased rapidly and will continue
increasing each month through
out the summer. Wage increases
in farm regions seem to be keep
ing step with wage increases IN
production industries. The de-
partment of agriculture states
that farm wages now are higher
than at any time since 1881, that
they are 80 per cent above the
1e1O-1914 average and that the
major part Of the increase has
come during the past year when
thew have increased "a per cent.
In many states the demand for
farm workers at standard wages
exceeds the supply, although the
department insists that there IS
no dangerous shortage of farm Ia
Dor. But it does mean further m
creases in wages.
Well aware Of the trouble
caused by rapidly rising prices
during the last war, the govern
ment intends to see to 1t that
those difficulties are not repeat
ed No only will prices be con-
rolled, but efforts will be mace
to control the spending Of money
by the public. This-will prooaoly
be done in three ways: Cd VIDE
advertising and promotion to get
people to invest large proper
tion of their increased incomes IN
government defense bonds; (2)
heavy taxes on the middle-income
group so that part of their IN
creased income, resulting from
government orders, will be re-
turned to the government; 90
educational appeals to our patr1o-
tisrn to refrain from purchasing
things the production ct which
might hamper defense produc-
ton. 1t is possible that we may
get our first taste of sales cam
paign conducted for the purpose
of persuading us not to buy
things.
The delicacy of our short-of-
war moves has been greatly IN
creased by two actions of our gov
eminent which Axis authorities
argue are breaches Of interna-
tional law, namely, the refusal of
our government to recognize a
Nazi-dictated statement fir o m
Denmark voiding the agreement
placing Greenland under U. S.
protection, and our seizure OF
Danish, German and Italian ships.
Secretary Hull has sound argu-
ments to show that he is acting
within this country's rights in
both of these moves and he has
made it clear that he doesn't in
tend to do any back-watering.
In the Greenland episode he has
the backing of the Danish minis
ter at Washington who signed the
agreement and refused to be re-
called by his government on or
ders "emanating directly or in
directly from Germany" He sta
ted that so far as this country is
concerned the arrangement is
clearly within the scope of our
Monroe Doctrine.
The success of the Axis powers
in the Balkans has made congress
and the President more deter
mined than ever to increase eff
forts of greater aid to Great
Britain. Although we are still