Evening star., 1943-06-30


fer. but we will certainly have
enough to assure healthful diet"
The oath of Office was admin
istered by Chief Justice Richard
Whaley of the United States Court
OF Claims from which Judge Jones
has taken leave of absence for the
new job.
Shortly after Judge Jones was
sworn in the WLB issued its state
ment declaring its unanimous sup
port for the food subsidy program
and asserting that a ceiling on the
cost of living is necessary to enable
it to hold down wages.
Davis Statement.
The following statement was is
sued by Chairman William H. Davis
The national program for eco
nomic stabilization set forth in the
act of Congress of October 2, 1912,
calls for the stabilization of prices
and Of wages so far as practicable
at the levels prevailing on Septem-
ber Is, 1912. Since the passage
Of that act of Congress the National
War Labor Board has effectively
stabilized the wage rates in &C
cordance with the national policy.
The yardsticks are known and it is
known that they will be applied
without discrimination to all groups
of wage earners.
ITO avoid injustice in the appli-
F1t1Nn Nf thiS 10,
program certain types of wage ad-
justments have been approved, but
these adjustments have been made
without substantial effect upon
prices. From October, 1912, through
April, l943, 23,779 wage adjustment
cases have been disposed of by the
board. In only 81 cases, or in four
out of every 1000 cases, did the
wage adjustment require price ad-
JuStments.
During this same period, from
October, 1882, through April, l943,
the cost of living increased by g.
per cent. This increase was prin-
clpally in the cost of food. Food
prices IN general increased 1923 per
cent. The prices of fresh fruits
and vegetables considered separately
increased $40 per cent. This in
creased cost of food has already
worked a hardship on many wage
earnerS whose wage rates have
been stabilized; particularly upon
those in the lower wage groups. the
greater part of whose incomes is
spent for food.
Stabilizaoitn Affected.
This increasing cost of food
gravely affects the wage stabiIiza-
ton program of the National War
Labor Board. The board believes
that its established wage stabiliza-
ton policy is effective. 1t believes
that policy should be carried for
ward in full cooperation with the
other agencies of Government re-
SponSible for the other factors of
the overall economic stabilization
program. But the board states with
all the emphasis at its command
that its wage StabiliZation program
calls for prompt carrying forward
Of the announced policies of the
administration affecting the cost Of
food. In the considered opinion OF
the board, this is essential to the
success of national economic stabil-
ization.
Subsidies are among the inStru-
mentS which have proved effective
TO control food prices. The War
Labor Board unanimously supports
the administration intention to
use these and all appropriate meas
ures N its food price policy
Meanwhile. Senator Hawkes., Re
publican, of New Jersey. comment
ing on the resignation Of Mr. Davis
as food administrator declared in a
statement that president Roosevelt
has not yet demonstrated that he
understands the difference between
men Of action and men who only
plan"
Every business executive or fore
man who has supervised more than
eight persons knows what is wrong
with the war direction" Senator
Hawkes. said. MI Chester Davis
knew 1t when he resigned It is
faulty administra ton"
Probably the three most important
executive positions in the country.
he said. are held by War Nobiliza-
ton Disector Byrnes. Sterilization
Director Vinson and Judge Jones.
Brown Also Mentioned.
Yet" Senator Hawkes. said. "ac-
cording to their own biographies,
none of this powerful trio has ever
had previous economic or executive
training. Add to this group OPA
Administrator Prentiss Brown and
we have as complete a picture as
can be imagined Of men chosen to
do important work in a critical
hour Of the Nations history with
out the background and training
required to equip them for the JOB.
Chairman Jenkins Of the Repub-
lican Congressional Food Study
Committee said in a statement That
Mr.. Roosevelt is unwilling to con-
centrate necessary authority with
competent men and that Mr.. Davis
resigned because mis- hands were
tied by the Chief Executive"
Congress ard the American pco-
pie must demand that the President
take the food situation out of poll
tics he declared that it be di-
vorced completely from the fourth
term ambitions of the New Deal
high command, that experienced
men be appointed, regardless of
politics, and clothed with the neces-
sary authority to meet and deal
effectively with this threat of hun
ger in a nation of plenty"