Evening star., 1942-09-14
0PMayUrge
SomeChanges
In Initiation Bill
MeNoy Commends
Objectives, Sees Need
Of Modification
Earlier Story on Page AID
-By ]. A. O'LEARY.


While commencing the objec-
tives OF the administrations new
price and wage control bill to
curb imitation, Republican Floor
Leader McNary of Oregon indi-
Gated this afternoon changes
may be proposed before it
passes.
"The objectives are commendable," "
said Senator McNary, "but it may
require some modification in the
interest of imitation control"
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
of Michigan also reflected the
thought that the bill sis good as
far as it goes, but it does not 60 far
enough because it does not require
the President to act simultaneously
on farm prices and wages"
"Ihat is the meat of the whole
controversy" Senator Vandenberg
continued. Furthermore, taking a
precedent from the President him
self in respect to the urgency of
the situation, Congress might well
call upon the President to take this
action in the first instance not later
than october 15."
The Michigan Senator was re-
ferring to the warning given Con-
gress by the President that if it
failed to enact more effective anti
imitation legislation by October /,
he would act.
Step in Right Direction.
The bill introduced at noon directs
the President to stabilize wages,
prices and other factors entering the
cost of living at the August is lev
els, as far as that is practicable,
but with leeway to correct gross in
equities that might result from ap-
plying that date to certain wages or
prices.
The general reaction among SEN
ators was that the bill is step in
the right direction.
Meanwhile, Chairman Steagall OF
the House Banking Committee
made plans to introduce q House
bill later this evening, but did not
indicate in advance whether it
would be the same as the Senate
plan.
Senator Norris. Independent, Of
Nebraska, who last week proposed
that the Office of Price Admins
tration be given veto power over
public utility rates fixed by State
or District of Columbia commits
sions, said this afternoon he had
been informed the new bill is broad
enough to accomplish that. If he
concludes 1t is not, he said he may
offer an amendment.
Now Near 1926 Prices.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, oi
Oklahoma, who for 10 years has
been contending that the COM
modify price level has been too low
said If the bill will make possible
the holding of prices at approx.
mately present levels he will be
satisfied. He believes the 192t
prosperity price level should b
maintained, and said the genera
price level on last Thursday wa
99.1 per cent of 1926.
Price Administrator Henderson, ir
a letter to Speaker Rayburn, stressed
"the grave urgency of the problem
we face" and said it was "a matter
of vast importance not only to ths
people of the country but to the sue.
cessful prosecution of the war it.
self"
Mr.. Henderson estimated that i
food prices were allowed to rise t,
the levels now permitted, $2,036,
100000 would be added to the retail
cost of food this year.
Wage Gap Equally Important"
Such increases, Mr.. Henderson
said, would render impossible an
form of effective price control fo
food products ana would almost Ger
tainly impair price control for non
agricultural commodities as we'll"
1T is hardly to be expected ths
other groups in the communit
would stand quietly by while farr
prices were increasing to this ex
tent" he added. This is the or
great gap in the present price-cor
troll structure which must be close
If the threat of imitation is to
eliminated"
Another equally important gap
he said, was wage increases, whio
"are threatening our ceiling"
Wages are costs and if they cor
tinue to rise, prices must also rise
he wrote. But wages cannot
stabilized If the cost of food keeps {
rising"