Evening star., 1942-07-13
Henderson S Request
For 0PA Fund Boost
Taken Up in Senate
Wagner Issues Appeal
For Support Of Price
Control System
BY the Associated Press.

The price control appropria-
ton bill went before the Senate
today with a warning by Leon
Henderson that price-fixing linn
itations sought by farm groups
would cripple an important part
of the anti-inflation program.
The limitations are contained IN
a 81 1856, 100000 supplemental appro-
priation bill for war agencies. The
bill includes $4,000 900, tied down
by a series of restrictive amend
ments, to finance years. operation
of the Office of Price Administration
which Mr.. Henderson directs.
Increase Over House Funds. =
Although the $4,000 900 OPA
fund allowed by the Appropriations
Committee is an increase of $45 ,Q00,-
600 above the amount previously
voted by the House, it is 10000, 900
less than the smallest amount the
price administrator had asked. He
said the cut would limit OPA opera
tions severely but that this problem
could be met.
Mr. Henderson's main criticism of
the bill was directed against an
Appropriations Committee amend
ment to prevent the OPA from fix
ing prices on any commodity made
in whole or in part from a farm
product unless the price reflected
ITO per cent of parity. Parity is a
level intended to give crops the pur-
chasing power they enjoyed in a
previous period, usually 1909-1914.
In a statement issued Saturday
night Mr.. Henderson said the farm
| price restriction would force repeal
of the general maximum price reg
ulations because it would require
studies on thousands of items of
food, clothing and industrial prod
ucts before ceilings could be set.
Senator Wagner, Democrat of New
York, asserted in a broadcast last
! night that the appropriation for Mr..
| Henderson's Office was the most i'm
portant issue on the home front.
Because of price restrictions al
ready imposed by OPA, the United
States will save at least $4,000, ,OOO,-
900 on its arms production program
by the end of 1943, Senator Wagner
said. These savings alone, he added,
would justify Congress in provid-
ing adequate appropriation" to
support the price control system.
Support for OPA Chief Asked.
II do not say, Senator Wagner
commented, that all criticism of
! the price administration is un-
founded. I do say that every grasp
ing landlord, every speculator in
war materials and consumers goods,
every producer reaching out for un-
due profits at the Nations expense,
is today ganging up on the OPA.
1t therefore behooves the over
Whelming majority of Americans
producers, property owners, con-
sumers-who appreciate it's supreme
Importance in the entire war effort,
to give the price administration
their effective support now. when its
usefulness as an effective war
agency hangs in the balance"
Senator Wagner also protested
against the refusal of the House to
allow sale of Government grain at
subparity prices He said such sales
we're necessary for several reasons,
not only to provide animal feed,
but for production of alcohol for
explosives and synthetic rubber.
He agreed with the price admin
istrator in condemning another
amendment which would prohibit
the use of subsidies to hold down
the cost of living.
Mr.. Henderson declared that a
third change, requiring Senate con-
flrmation of appointments of all
OPA employees paid $4,000 a year or
more, would inject politics into price
control administration.
Another issue was the 2l2 cents a
gallon increase in gasoline prices in
the II rationed States.
The Appropriations Committee
wrote into the measure a provision
which in effect would deny the OPA
funds to enforce this price increase
in such States as Georgia, which
receives gasoline by pipe line and
where no additional transportation
costs have resulted from the cessa-
ton Of ocean tanker service.