The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-09-08
Resentful Over
Iltinatun
on Prices
See no Program
to Control
Wages
nv lnternational News servioe)

Washington. Sept SINS A
resentful Congress. facing its first
major showdown with the White
House since Pearl Harbor. today
took pertunctory steps to meet
President Rooseyclt's anti-infla-
ton ultimatum but most mem.
b,rs doubted that any conclusive
action can he taken by Oct !, the
deadline fixed by the Chief Exc.
cUiiye.
The III feeling appeared 10 hinge
on two points stemming from Mr..
Rooseyelt's special message 10
Congress yesterday on initiation.
and his subsequent "flrrside chat.
delivered 10 the nation last night
! That the President had open
ly threatened to usurp powers of
Congress by declaring that II Con
gress does not change the present
law on farm price ceilings by oct.
], he will do It by executive order.
, That the President. while
specifically recognizing that spiral
ling wages are contributing as
much 10 the spectre of initiation
40 farm prices, outlined no policy
on wage scales but spared no do.
tail In proposing one on agricul-
ture
Danger plain
in both his message and firesidc
chat. however MIR. Roosevelt made
u plain that unless chrbs are put
or farm prices and industrial
wages. the nations economic struc-
ture Is endangered.
In the first instance he deliver
ed his % day ultimatum that Con-
gress must lower the minimum
farm price ceiling from 110 per
cent OF parity to 100 per cent. or
he will In the case OF wages. he
asked for no legislation. but simp-
~ stated that they "can and VIII
be stabilized also
Question Legality
This will do" the President
added without further explana-
ton
Many members. led by Sen Taft
CR) Ohio. frankly stated that they
do not believe the President con.
stilutionally can suspend an act
u Congress. while others. headed
by Sen. Van Nuys lD) Ind. were
critical Of the President for not
asking for a ceiling on wages.
Oddly enough. virtually no mem.
hers were in disagreement with
Mr. Roosevelt as to his detectives.
but not few were resentful
against the Presidents ultlmalum
tactics.
Speaker Rayburn Immediately
issued call for all members OF
the House IN return 10 Washing
ton next Monday. while Sen. Way
ncf % = y chairman Of the
Senate Banking Committee. an
nounced he would introduce legis-
latIon on Thursday 10 carry out
A4lF 7 lFNlIfhl zF'INFrAs
Sentiment in the Senate appear
"a fairly well consolidated behind
Sens. TAFT and Norris ~ Neb,
who have been particularly citl-
al Of the Presidents threat 10 act
by Fiat
Dangerous Doctrine
"li seems TO me Taft declared,
that the implications In the mes
sage suggest doctrine so reyolu.
tionary, 30 dangerous 70 democrat.
ic government. that ! cannot re-
main silent The message con-
taips the reasonable Implication
that II We don't pass the tax law
the President wants he viii levy
taxes Such A doctrine would
leave Congress mere shell OF
legislative body
Taft referred 10 Mr. ROosevelt's
rebske 10 Congress Tor not having
passed the pending Ss70oo00. 600
tax bill The measure was ap-
proved by the House in July but
- s,ill In committee IN the Senate.
Pointed Pistol
Sen LaFollette Pl Wis. termed
the Presidents ultimatum "A pis-
~ painted at The head o, Con-
gress," while Sen Nandenberz CBJ
Mich protested against what he
called Mr. Roosevelt's unfair i'm
plication that Congress alone IS re-
sronsible for the delay in enact
mcnt OF the tax program Van
denberg laid he blame a. the feet
OF Secretary Of the Treasury Nor
genthau who. he said. had not
recognized the realities OF the sit
uafion until last week
In the House. where the farm
bloc originally conceived the pres
ent law on farm price ceilings. the
.eactlon was OF milder tone. but
me resentment was plain. never