Evening star., 1943-09-04
Labor Leaders
See e'Snooping'
In 0PA Move
Plea for Housewives
Aid in Price Fight
Here Stirs Storm

Accusations by several labor lead
srs that OPA is asking District
housewives to become "snoopers'
turned meeting of the OPAs loca
Labor Advisory Committee into q
heated debate last night and brought
forth vigorous denials of the charges
from OPA leaders who had ad-
dressed the meeting.
The meeting, called by the 12-man
OPA Labor Advisory Committee
representing all local unions and
District OPA officials, to discuss la
bors role in OPA's price control and
rationing program, was held at
Force School, 174O Massachusetts,
avenue NV.
The charges against OPA were
voiced after appeals for cooperation
in price panel program were made
by Robert K. Thompson. District
OPA director, and Sherwood Dodge.
acting price executive of the Dis
trict OPA.
Point to Survey Results.
Mr. Thompson declared that OPA's
price control program, if properly
supported, would bring black mar
kets to complete minimum. He
pointed out that 1T has been esti-
mated that out of each $lO0 spent
by labor today $5 is paid for goods
marked over the ceiling level"
M. npJpo o,,Ali,,ol +1,o
price control program, to be ex-
ecuted by a paid price clerk and
volunteer price panel assistants at
each ration board and called for an
aroused community" to put it into
effect. He said that an initial sur
vey made In the District by the
volunteer assistants on IL rationed
grocery items showed that less than
one half of the stores were in full
compliance with price ceiling levels.
He added that the cases of non-
compliance were reduced by one
half since the survey.
Calling for more housewives to
volunteer as price control assistants,
Mr.. Dodge said at least 1000 work
ers would be needed to adequately
90 the job of canvassing local estab-
lishments.
Call Method "Snooping."
In the ensuing discussion period,
John Locher, president of the Wash
ington Central Labor Union, AFL.
told the OPA leaders bluntlv that
"the Majority of the people refuse to
become shoppers He said this
word was brought up freely at
meeting of his organization the
other night when he appealed for
price panel volunteers. ITO begin
with" he asserted. people don't
have a whole lot of faith in OPA."
He said only about Is had volun-
teered for price panel work in reply
to 1000 cards sent out.
Supporting Mr.. Locher's state
ments, Charles M. Andre, president
of the Bakery Sales Drivers Union,
AFL, declared, "I think it is asking
a little bit too much to ask 1000
laboring people to use little of our
time to 'sinoop' We refuse to have
Our wives act as 'snoopers'
Mr.. Andre proposed that lone of
two conscientious persons could
police this idea in Washington.
B. A. Downey of Plumbers Local,
AFL, asked, why can't the house
wives police these businesses on their
own? They all have the price lists"
Replies to Remarks.
Countering these remarks, Mr..
Dodge said "snooping" is nasty
little word used to discredit the pro-
gram "There is no case on record"
he said, where a price panel assist
ant has gone into a retail store
without introducing herself. Sneak
ing seems to have no part in this
program-I wouldn't have it that
way. and 1 am sure Mr.. Thompson
wouldn't have it that way"
Mr.. Thompson pointed out that it
would be impossible to have large
enough administrative staff to carry
out the program. He said OPA
needs the cooperation of all, ex-
planning that illegal prices are just
the same as a salary reduction"
Two representatives of the United
Federal Workers of America, CIO,
Miss Jeanne Hinton and Miss Dor
othy Bailey, disagreed with the three
dissenting members of the OPA
Labor Advisory Committee by ask
ing the full support of labor for the
price control program.
Frank O'Connor, business repre-
sentative of the Stone and Marble
Masons' Union, AFL, who presided,
opened the meeting by stating. I'VE
can't get raise in wages, but may
be we can help control the cost of
living"