Evening star., 1942-01-31
BY the Associated Press.

Some questions and answers on
the price control bill signed by
President Roosevelt yesterday:
@. When is the bill effective?
A. 1t was effective Immediately,
but no price regulations can be
issued until Mr.. Roosevelt has ap-
pointed an misunderstanding an
nounced his choice of Leon Hen
derson-and until after Senate
confirmation of the appointment
and Mr.. Henderson's oath-taking.
@. What immediate results can
be expected?
A. The Office of Price Admins
traitor says nothing sweeping or
radical" will be done in extending
price roofs over commodities not
already covered. Control will con-
tinue to be piecemeal;- that Is, one
commodity will be handled after
another, as rapidly as they develop
inflationary tendencies.
Price Ceilings Provided.
@. Does the bill put ceilings on
retail prices?
A. That power is given the ad-
ministrator, but o. P. A. officials
say 1t will not be exercised fire.
quently for the time being, unless
such emergencies arise as the recent
rush on flashlights. o. P. A. prefers
to work at the factory or wholesale
level, counting on these to stabilize
retail prices. Most ceilings are on
raw materials.
@. What about later on?
A. There inevitably will be more
retail price ceilings, o. P. A. believes,
as stocks of durable consumers
goods-radios, washing machines,
vacuum cleaners and the like
dwindle. Storekeepers having little
prospect of replenishing supplies are
under temptation to jack prices up.
@. Are the present price ceiling
orders carried over automatically
into law?
A. No. Each of the 80 price
schedules will be re-issued as
price regulation" They will then
be backed by legal status instead Of
what o. P. A. calls its present Jaw
bone authority"
@. Will new price orders appear
at a faster rate than formerly?
A. Probably not faster than In
January, when more than dozen
orders appeared.
Food Not Yet Affected.
@. Are retail food price ceilings
expected?
A. o. P. A. says none is in prepa-
ration at this time.
@. Will all businesses operating
under price ceilings have to get
licenses to do business?
A. o. P. A. officials agree that
licensing will come ultimately, as
authorized under the act, but have
not yet decided on the form of
licensing machinery.
@. Can seller be put out of busi-
ness If he violates the price maxi
mum?
A. His license may be suspended
or revoked through court procedure,
but only upon second offense
after a warning has been given on
the first offense.
@. What other penalties are pro-
vided for violations?
A. Up to 5000 fine and 2 years
Imprisonment.
@. What can a buyer do to re-
cover sums paid in excess Of legal
ceiling?
A. He may sue in civil court to
recover three times the overcharge,
or $50, whichever sum is larger.
Pacts to be Preserved.
@. Will the existing voluntary
agreements, by which about 100 in
dustries maintain stable prices, be
transformed into price regulations?
A. Not as long as they work. Mr..
Henderson finds that method the
most satisfactory and least trou-
blesome" form of control.
@. Is any general price level for
all commodities stipulated?
"A. SOtlS1CSS oeald 0l1C q.
tor should give "due consideration"
to the level of October Ills, 1941, as
a period on which to base prices,
or the nearest two-week period on
which prices were representative.
@. Will the October prices be an
invariable guide?
A. No. They are not typical in
a large number of cases, because
of seasonal supply factors which af-
feet prices and because some prices
have to be set higher in order not
to dry up foreign sources of some
scarce items, and for other reasons.
@. Will rent control begin i'm
mediately?
A. 1t cannot, because the law pro-
vides that the administrator must
first make formal recommendations
as to rent levels il boom areas and