Evening star., 1942-09-17
Experience Shows
Price-Contro| Need,
Senator Brown Saws
Pending Bill Designed
For 'Ail-Out' Regulation,
Forum Speaker Asserts

Declaring that the experience Of
the last nine months has demon.
strated the necessity for an "all-out'
price-control law, Senator Brown
Democrat. of Michigan last night
told the Nation that the legislation
now being framed Is designed to
have such scope.
Senator Brown, who is in charge
Of the legislation which was drawn
.up at the Presidents request, spoke
In the National Radio Forum, which
was broadcast over Station WMAL
and the Blue Network.
Summing up the objectives of the
proposed price legislation, Senator
Brown said:
The problem of lowering already
existing prices and wages is too diff
ncult to undertake now, although
where prices are grossly inadequate,
the bill provides authority for action.
TAs the sponsor of the original price
control bill. I have listened for
all-out price control.
Time Not Ripe in January.
ri II do not think that the country
was ready for it in January of this
year (when the original Legislation
was adopted) The experience of the
past nine months, I believe, has
demonstrated the necessity for it.
We are now giving the country an
all-out price-control bill and Ger
tainly 1t cannot be confined to in
dustrial wages and farm prices.
Such would be unfair.
There, the problem is perhaps
the greatest in its effect on the cost
of living, but huge salaries, bonuses,
and other extraordinary compensa-
tions are comfortable and where
necessary for the correction OF gross
inequities, they should be con-
trolled."
: He added here that Certainly
Congress cannot do this job. All we
tan do is to establish a general
standard" This was to rebut the
contention of those who, he ex-
planned earlier, argue that Congress
should by law fix all prices, wages,
salaries and other factors affecting
the cost of living.
"A little contemplation will reveal
that Congress is not the proper au-
thority to go into details of this
kind" the speaker explained. The
contemplated legislation, he pointed
out, directs the President to stabilize
prices and wages on the basis of
levels existing at the present time.
In touching on specific controls,
Senator Brown said that while "it is
my judgment" that the President will
not interfere with State regulatory
commissions in utilities rates ques-
tions, 'the bill establishes a general
rule that these rates should not be
changed from the August Is, 1912,
level"
Price Control Reviewed.
Reviewing the history Of price con-
troll, Senator Brown said the Jan.
uary bill was 4 Compromise" be-
cause it was moi possible to control
farm prices and wages ut that time.
However, the bill as it finally
came out has saved the American
people tremendous sum of money
in the cost of living" he emphasized.
I'VE hear much of the Canadian
bill, yet latest available statistics
show that our nill has not only done
as we'll in keeping the cost of living
down as has the Canadian measure,
but that we have done slightly bet
ter by fraction of / per cent" he
continued However, 1 agree with
the Presidents statement that un-
less the general principles of his mes
sage are carried out, there is serious
danger that the cost Of living may
rise considerably"
At present, farm prices cannot be
regulated until they reach a level of
about 116 per cent of parity. Wages
are not subject to freeze The pend
ing legislation provides that the
President shall not fix farm prices
below parity nor below the top mar
ket price heretofore reached this
year, while wages cannot be cut