The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-09-14

QOne r1ghG py, mas been maintained in full flood of about 800 letters per week, or one letter per congressman per week, which is average when Congress is in session. The congressman have just been writing their suuawks from the home precincts, and their return to Washington may see a resumption of the vocal protesta- tions and the grilling which OPA has received from half dozen as- sorted committees.
 Price Administrator prentise M. Brown also walked off the scene shortly after Bowles came to town, leaving him in full charge. So any net gains or Improvements on the part of OPA are entirely to the credit of the general manager. BUSINESS IN SADDLE Biggest change around OPA head quarters has been the rise in the role which business men are now playing in shaping policies and do- ing the work. One hundred and seventy-two industry advisory colln- cils have been nan1ed, and within 30 days OPA will have the number up to around 300. Veterans in OPA, who go back to the Leon Henderson era, look on this as a bad sign. They interpret 1t as an admission that business has taken over" OPA and will run price control and rationing to suit itself, instead of Suiting the best interests of the consumer. But along with this Bowles has announced his determination to re- duce prices to Sept. 15, 1492, levels, so it's difficult to make the charge stick. Also, in all his meetings with industry groups, Bowles has taken the line that, If you think price control is going to be weakened, you are very much mistaken, because we are going to make 1t very tight. We do want to make it practical and sensible and easy to deal with, but we are not going to weaken this thing"
 The professors have been reliev- ed of top policy making jobs, in line with the congressional mandate. Six out of the seven top policy making jobs in the price division of OPA had to be vacated. Three of the professors were retained as econo- mic advisers in the price, consumers goods and food divisions. Tn addi- ton, two state directors had to be removed and replaced by business men.
 Bowles has decentralized the OPA operation by giving more authority to regional administrators and dis trict directors.
 PRODUCT CONTROL
 Grade labelling requirements have been taken off some 20 price regul- ations, in compliance with the Taft amendment to the Commodity Credit Corporation bill. But stand ards specifications which have been generally accepted by any industry in grading its products are permit ted to remain as, for instance, on meat. Bowles' own feeling on this is- sue, though 1t is not yet an an- nounced OPA policy, is that, "you cannot control prices successfully without some control of what is in JLIG pIOQuCC'
 More emphasis has been placed on compliance" with OPA orders rather than an enforcement" The Home Front Pledge" campaign launched a couple of weeks ago to get consumers to agree to pay no more than top prices" and accept no goods without going up rationed stamps is an effort in this direc- ton.
 A start has been made on making regulations clearer, but that is such big job that it can't be done in six weeks, or maybe even in six months. An example is the recent suspension for 30 days, until Sept. 26, of new price schedule on out erwear garments, to give the indus try a chance to go over the order and make it practicable. Bowles has made 8 start on what amounts to a complete reorganiza- tion of OPA. The big legal division which frightened many business men is being broken up and counsel attached to each section. An effort is being made to group all consum- CTS goods regulation in one division so that department store problems or all hardware store problem will be handled in one place instead Of a dozen or more.