Detroit evening times., 1943-08-23
The Grade Label Menace

The Grade Label Menace
THE federal grade labelling" program has not been
entirely abandoned despite the very clear intention
and indeed the specific instruction Of Congress that be
discontinued.
The grade labelling program originally devised
bv socastc elements within the Office Of Price Admin
stration eliminate the trade and brand names of manu-
featured and processed commodities and Ia require their
distribution and marketing under the virtual anonymity
Of government grading.
Since this would have destroyed the traditional, sue
cessfu and beneficial system Of American free enterprise
in business and industry it vigorously opposed by
business and ndusryand opposed with equal vgor
by alert spokesmen for organized labor who recognized
that il would diminish employment opportunities IN the
country and reduce American standards of living.
And since these protests earnestly made.
and were so soundy based Congress fortunately and
very wisely responsive them and enacted legislation
intended to stop the program.
Insofar as the Office of Price Administration is
cerned the mandate of Congress in this respect seems
10 have been rather largely observed.
Many commodities previously scheduled for inclusion
under the grade labelling program have not been included
Some commodities such packed foods peanuts,
rubber heels the 1910 hurley tobacco crop and dry beans
which already under the program have been released
from il.
GO TO that extent the will of Congress which
- unquestonaby the will of the people, has prevailed
But comes to light that the Office of Price
Administration not the only federal authority which
had assumed the power to apply the grade labelling
program, and the inclination to do
The Office of Economic Sterilization. headed by
Judge Vinson only that power and has the
inclination it, but actually ordered that grade
labelling of beef, veal lamb and mutton be continued
Moreover. it appears that War Food Admins
traitor Jones could do likewise. could Judge Byrnes
head of the Office Of War Mobilization.
And, of course, it is we'll remembered that President
Roosevelt in signing the act of Congress which plainly
outawed the grade labelling program, frankly declared
that he did not regard accept it any hndrance to
the program.
So obviously the intention of Congress in this vital
matter has been largely undone
INDER these circumstances if the will Of Congress
~ which is still the unquestioned will of the people
is to prevail. further legislation on the subject is
necessary.
The grade label project is very plainly creature
with many heads, and than head must be cut
off to destroy it.
This, of course is quite typical of bureaucracy in
government.
1t is the of bureaucras resist any loss of
their and privileges and to resort to subterfuge
when ordinary resistance is futile.
That is why Objectionable and incompetent and
unnecessary bureaucrats forced of agency usually
reappear the pay rolls of some other agency
And it is why Objectionable and dangerous practices
and policies not permanently suspended by the
act of restraining agency of government-as the
grade labelling experience demonstrates
T7HE answer to all this and the remedy for it, is for
Congress to be diligent and determined in the
essential interests and rights of the American people
the bureaucras in cinging to their advantageous
positions and assumed powers.
The damaging and evil grade labelling program should
be scotched in many forms it appears 1t is the
task and the obligation of Congress to authority
for this purpose and it is to be hoped Congress will be
alert to the challenge with which it is confronted