The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-21
HOUSEWIVES CALL
 OPA PLANS GIDDY
Washington Official Ad= mits Browns Office Is
 Cracking at Seams
By ARTHUR r. DEGREVE Initcd Press Stan COrrcSDOndentl

Washington, May 2l.--UP) A well-informed official admitted to- day that the Office Of Price Admin istration was cracking at the seams,' but emphasized that the ad- ministration could not and would not let is collapse.
 This official pointed out that the price and rationing program has gone too far to risk complete chaos by a thorough overhauling of poli- cies and personnel.
 OPA policies were being denounc- ed by congress, housewives, labor and industry. "Giddy," "ieeble,' v "fumbling" were some Of the epith- cts used to describe them.
 OPA's search for hard boiled general manager has failed. There has been general agreement that such man is needed to supplement Price Administrator Prentiss M, Brown who Is regarded by many ot- ilcials in and out of OPA as too mild because he desires to please every one.
 Brown has been looking for gen. eral manager who is capable of say ing no to all factions, and then sticking to his decision. It was learned, however, that the last on list of possible candidates for such job had turned 1t down.
 Brown was being attacked by all groups affected by OPA policies. Sen. Henrik Shipstead, R., Minnr said his promised roll back" of prices was "swindle" inasmuch as 1t actually was a roll up." He charged that the new community wide dollars-and-c cents ceiling prices in Washington jumped prices "by something like 20 per cent over the former retail price level
 Take porterhouse and sirloin steak and roast" Shipstead told the senate. "In Washington, D. C., the OPAs ceiling price was jumped from the former price top of 50 to 59 cents pound up to 66 cents for choice steak at chain stores and 70 cents at Independent stores. The advertised roll-back was really a rollup of 10 to Is cents a pound"
 Labor and consumers organiza- tions complained that Brown has not carried out President Roose- veltS hold-the- order of April 8 to place ceilings on all important cost-of- living items and to roll back prices that have scared above req sonabc levels. Delegates from the New York City Consumer Council conferred with Acting OPA Admin istrator J. K. Galbraith yesterday and extracted from him promise to place dollars and cents prices on most t-consumed" fresh vegetables and fruit searly next month. The delegates reported the result of their conference at press conference in the office of Sen Robert F. Wagner, D., N. Y.
 Brown was being criticized on an- other front for yielding to pressure from the canning industry and scrapping the plan to grade label the l943 pack of fruits, juices and canned vegetables
 The results of Browns desire to eliminate friction through comprom- lse became evident again yesterday with imposition of the new ban on pleasure driving--a tact admission of the failure of Browns "honor system Brown lifted the original ban last March, it was said, on the basis of reports that police enforce ment had broken down and that he would please the public and win support for OPA by removing the ban.
 Today the ban is back in force in l2 eastern states, the District of Columbia and part of West Virginia and the east faces a critical gasoline shortage. Brown learned of the ac- ton while he lay in hospital re- cuperating from minor operation. The new ban, it was said, was ap- proved by Browns aides who had the hover to act.