Evening star., 1942-09-13
Senators Agree
On Tentative
Initiation Bill
Will Meet With
SteogoII Today on
House Measure
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

BY j. A. O'LEARY.
Senate leaders last night had
worked out the tentative draft
of an anti-inflation bill under
stood to have as it's basic objec-
tive the holding of both wages
and farm prices approximately
at present levels.
Although a series of conferences
yesterday between the Senate
craftsmen and Chairman Steagall
of the House Banking Committee
failed to bring an agreement on de-
tails of the measure, they will con-
fer again at 5 o'clock this afternoon
In any event, the Senate proposal
Is expected to be introduced by noon
tomorrow, since the Senate Bank
ing Committee has made plans to
start hearings Tuesday morning
with Price Administrator Hender-
son, War Labor Board Chairman
Davis and Secretary of Agriculture
VtSAoio DIS WitIIcSSeS.
Living Costs Still Rise.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department
made public a survey disclosing
sharp and unseasonal increases be-
tween July Is and August Is in the
price of foods exempt from con-
troi with the cost of living index
for large cities rising 04 per cent
for that period. Living costs in the
District of Columbia, the survey
showed, are now Ill per cent more
than year ago.
While House and Senate spokes-
men had reached no understanding
on the form of the legislation which
the President called for by Octo-
Der /. 1t became increasingly appar-
ent yesterday that Congress will
tackle the job of writing specific
control plan, rather than pass a
short resolution conferring general
powers on the President.
In considering price stabilization
at approximately present levels
Senate members were reported to be
proceeding on information that the
average of farm prices now is about
l01 per cent of parity.
In considering wage stabilization
they were reported to be keeping In
mind the policy laid down by the
War Labor Board In the Little
Steel" case two months ago, which
was to allow increases up to is per
cent reckoned from January l, 1941,
to cover equivalent increases in the
cost OF living. Senator's wrestling
with the problem are understood to
be trying to find out whether hold
Ing wages at present levels would
preserve that yardstick.
Leaders Drawing Plan.
Majority Leader Barkley, Chair
man Wagner Of the Senate Banking
Committee and Senator Brown
Democrat, of Michigan are taking
the lead in shaping the legislation
on the Senate side. Senator Brown
who steered the present price con-
troll law through the Senate in
January, is expected to take an
active part in the presentation OF
the new proposal.
They consulted with Representa-
tive Steagall yesterday in an effort
to harmonic viewpoints in both
Houses as far as possible before
bringing out definite plan. When
the conferees adjourned late in the
afternoon Mr.. Steagall said:
This Is all a preliminary dis
cussion of the legislation with nc
agreements reached"
Senator Barkley said that. while
nothing has been ruled out finally
the alternative of comforting gen.
eral powers on the President was
not running very strong now"
Senator Wagner said he did not
believe any effort would be made
to draft bill in such general terms
as not to include a formula TO,
stabilizing both wages and farm
prices.
One prominent member of the
Senate farm bloc, who was not
ready to be quoted, indicated pri-
vately yesterday he is still opposed
to repeating the ITO per cent OF
parity provision written into the
present price control law for farm
commodities. This and other safe
guards thrown around farm Ilices
In the present law were stressed
by the President as one of the chie1
obstacles to adequate control ot
imitation under the law as 1T stands
In addition to calling for price
(See IMITATION, Page A-12)