Evening star., 1943-05-01
Browns Talk on Prices
OPA Administrator Cautions Against
Ruce to Beut Living Costs

Second, to roll back those prices
which have got out of hand, The
| prices Of meats, fresh and canned
vegetables, coffee, among others, win
be rolled back.
Third, to establish specific dollars
and-cents prices for foods, SO that
all may know-sellers and BUYERS
ahke-What the legal price is. These
prices will be printed in small book
lets which the housewife can put in
her handbag when she goes to mar
ket, and will be otherwise displayed.
Fourth, to bring the chiseler, the
racketeer. the black market operator
to justice. These parasites feed not
only upon the consumer but upon
the overwhelming majority of busi-
| neSSmen, who are eager to abide
| by the law and our regulations under
the law. I propose with your help
to enforce these ceiling prices and
| to exterminate these criminal oper-
ators of the illegitimate markets.
Responsibility With Public.
The main responsibility for con-
troll OF the black market is with you,
the American people. In short
time you will know the legal price
for practically all food you buy. If
you pay a higher price, you are
law violater. If you are charged a
higher price, the seller is law vio-
later. I do not think the United
States Army could enforce price
control completely without the ac-
tive cooperation of the American
people. You can enforce it if you
refuse to pay the price above those
established by law.
The claimed justification for this
strike would fade entirely if every
American coal miner and housewife
would make and keep this simple
pledge: "I will not pay one cent
above the legal price,"
We in the Office of Price Admin
istration are charged with the re-
sponsibility of fixing prices. We are
keeping the value in the American
dollar. We are the protector of
your savings, your insurance policy,
bought for the benefits of your old
age and your dependents. We aim
to preserve the value of the bonds
of your Government so that the
dollars you now loan to your Gov
ernment will have the same value
when they are returned to you as
they now have.
Thankless Task.
We do not mind the criticism,
! often very bitter. We expect it. We
cut across the family life of every
one in the Nation. We have the
thankless task of saying to the
farmer, manufacturer, wholesaler
and retailer that their prices cam
not exceed fixed limits. We neces-
sarily reach into the complicated
and intricate structure of business
with fixed and arbitrary rules. 1t
is not surprising that we are re-
sented by those we control.
Every day under normal condi-
tions in good times and bad times
there are business casualties and
failures. Now these are blamed on
the Office of Price Administration.
Actually, business casualties are to-
day lower than in generation.
Your Government needs your sup
port in this critical hour.
The simple truth of the matter is
that this office is holding as nearly
as humanity possible to the principle
of the Sterilization Act of last fall.
| Our answer to those who assert that
we are not holding the cost of living
line is that wages in industry, fac
tory and mine have risen amply and
sufficiently to cover the inevitable
rises in the level of. living costs.
There is no justification for break
ing the stabilization program. Let
the American people join us in hold
ing the line.