Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-13
Price Control
Faces Crucial
Test in Senate
Administration Appeals
10 Public 10 Save
Hendersons Program
BY GEORGE r. REEDH Jr.
United Press star Correspondent

United Press stan Correspondent
WASHIN TON. July 10
p esident RooseveltS price control
program faces a crucial test in an
angry Senate today.
Administration leaders, fearful
that Gripping limitations on
Price Administrators Leon Hender-
sons authority will be approved.
are appealing direct 10 the people
for support.
The issue is a $4,000, 900 APP
preparation 10 finance the Office
of Price Administration during the
1913 fiscal year. But the real bat
lie centerS around series OF
= .lendments 70 that appropriation
which were sponsored by the Sen
ate appropriations o m m a.
They would severely limit Hen
derson's authority 10 impose price
ceilings on commodities.
{ ASKS FREE HAND
On the eve Of the battle, Senator
Robert F. Wagner Cd of New
York. emphasized in radio ad-
dress the Importance of giving
OPA a relatively free hand and
asserted that every grasping
landlord, every speculator in war
materials and consumers goods,
every producer reaching out for
undue profits at the nations ex-
pense, is ganging up" on OPA.
Senate Democratic Leader Alben
w. Barley of Kentucky said sub
si-ntially the same thing in a
radio address "a hours earlies.
The argument of the other side
was summarized by Senator Ger
aid p. Nye (R) OF North Dakota,
who was instrumental in drafting
some of the amendments.
LAWYERS BACK OPA
cit won't be long before the
price chief has every one against
him." Nye said. think there
is a general feeling that this
price control thing Ii going to
fold up. 1t Is only q question of
how much money has to be spent
10 prove It"
The National Lawyers Guild, In
a letter TO President Roosevelt, de-
nounced the members of Congress
who are refusing to pass legisla-
ton 10 make price control really
effective" II listed as among the
certain selfish and power-hungry
groups
1.-THE so-called farm bloc
which can hardly be said 10 rep
resent the tue interests of the
average American farmer.
Certain Industrial employers
who manifest over-zealous solicit
tude for the hazards of the In
iation In their insistence upon
wage freezing for their en-
ployes, while at the same time
the wage adjustments for their
chief executive officers soar far
and high beyond the $4,000 net
income limitation proposed in
(the Presidents) seven point
program"
Nh<AAN II n
Originally the congressional fight
was over sufficient funds 10 oper-
a OPA. Henderson asked for
$4,000. 900. The budget bureau
recommended S161, 100000. The
course cut the figure to SIS, ZOO, 00C
and the Senate appropriations
committee raised il to- 500. 900. 900
That increase in funds. however
only partially softened administra.
ton objections to the restrictive
amendments.
Those limitations are:
ALL salaried OPA employees
including Henderson-who re-
ceive more than 81 800 annually
must be confirmed by the Senate.
2-The funds cannot be used
directly or indirectly 10 sub
sidize unduly high industrial
costs as a method of keeping
prices down.
3-OPA cannot set price CELL
ings on processed commodities
which would depress farm prices
below no per cent of parity.
4-Price rises in rationed
communication the theory that
transportation costs have in
creased cannot be authorized
unless they are permitte d
throughout the nation or unless
transportation methods in the
particular area involved have
changed in such a manner as 10
affect costs.
5-Price differentials cannot
be established IN hardwood lum-
Der OF similar quality in con-
tiguouS apeaS.
h- D.