Evening star., 1943-04-09
Initiation Statement and Executive Order

'cutive Order
Here is the tert OF President
Roosepelt's erecutiUe order on
prices and wages:
BY virtue Of the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and the
statutes, and particularly by the
First War Powers Act. l94l, and the
Act of October 2 1912, entitled IAN
act to amend the Emergency Price
Control Act of 1912, to aid in pre-
venting imitation and for other pur-
poses" as President OF the United
States and Commander in Chief of
the Army and Navy and in order
to safeguard the stabilization of
prices, wages and salaries, affecting
the cost of living on the basis of
levels existing on September Is, 1912.
as authorized and directd by said
Act of Congress of October 2, 1912.
and Executive Order Number $3.50
of october 3, 1912, and to prevent
increases in wages. salaries, prices
and profits, which. however justifi-
able if viewed apart from their
effect upon the economy, tend to
undermine the basis of stabiliza-
ton, and to provide such regula-
tions with respect to the control
of price, wage and salary increases
as are necessary to maintain sta
bilization, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Ceiling Prices Ordered.
l, In the case of agricultural COM
modities, the price administrator
and the administrator of food pro-
duction and distribution 'herein-
after referred to as the food ad-
mlniStrator) are directed. and in
the case of other commodities the
price administrator is directed to
take immediate steps to place CELL
ing prices on all commodities ef-
fecting the cost of living Each of
them is directed to authorize no
further increases in ceiling prices
except to the minimum extent
required by law.
Each of them is further directed
Immediately to use all discretionary
powers vested in them by law to
prevent further price increases di-
rect or indirect. to prevent profiteer-
ing and to reduce prices which are
excessively high, unfair or inequi-
table, Nothing herein. however.
shall be construed to prevent the
food administrator and the price
administrator. subject to the general
policy directives Of the economic
stabilization director, from max
ing such readjustments in price re-
lationships appropriate for various
commodities. or classes. qualities or
grades thereof or for seasonal vari-
ations or for various marketing
areas, or from authorizing such sup
port prices. subsidies or other in
ducements as may be authorized by
law and deemed necessary to main
tain Or increase production. pro-
vided that such action does not in
crease the cost Of living.
Transfers Powers.
The power. functions and duties
conferred on the Secretary of Agri-
culture under Section 3 Of the
Emergency Price Control Act of 1912
Public Law 42l. 77th CongD and
under Section 3 of the Act of Oc-
tober 2. 1912 Public Law 729, 77th
Cong) are hereby transferred to-.
and shall be exercised by the food
administrator.
2. The National War Labor Board
the commissioner of internal rev.
enue and other agencies exercising
authority conferred by Executive Or
der No. $3.50 or Executive Order 9299
and the regulations issud pursuant
thereto over wage or salary increases
are directed to authorize no further
increase in wages or salaries except
such as are clearly necessary to cor
rect substandards of living. provided
that nothing herein shall be con-
strued to prevent such agencies from
making such wage or salary read
justments as may be deemed appro-
pirate and may not have heretofore
been made to compensate, in accord
ance with the Little Steel formula
as.heretofore defined by the National
War Labor Board, for the rise in
the cost of living between January
l, 194l, and May /. 1912 Nor shall
anything herein be construed to
prevent such agencies, subject to the
general policies and directives of
the economic stabilization director,
from authorizing reasonable adjust
of promotions. reclassifications merit
increases. incentive wages or the
like. provided that such adjustments
do not increase the level of pro-
duction costs appreciably or furnish
the basis either to increase prices
or to resist otherwise justif1able re-
ductions in prices.
Employment Restricted.
3. The chairman of the War Man
power Commission is authorized to
forbid the employment by any en-
ployer of any new employe or the
acceptance of employment by a new
employe except as authorized in &C
cordance with regulations which
may be issued by the chairman of
the War Manpower Commission,
with the approval of the economic
stabilization director, for the pur-
pose of preventing such employment
at a wage or salary higher than
that received by such new employe
In his last employment unless the
change Of employment would aid in
the effective prosecution of the war
4. The attention Of all agencies
OF the Federal Government and OF
all State and municipal authorities,
concerned with the rates of COM
mon carriers or other public utili-