Evening star., 1943-04-03
0PA Faces Twin Probe
In House on CHARGES
OF Exceeding Powers
Brown Appoints Deputy
To Seek Ways to Cut
Irritation to Public
BY The Associated Press

By The Associated Press.
The Once of Price Administra ton
was faced with q double -barreled
congressional investigation today as
Administrator Brown took steps to
cultivate better relations with the
public
Soon after Mr. Brown disclosed
that he had authorized q deputy,
Lou Maxon, to review "all actions
which bear on OPA relations with
the public in order to minimize irri-
tations flowing from them," Chair
man Patman of the House Com
mittee on Small Business announced
he had ordered an immediate in
vestigat ton of Mr.. Browns agency to
determine whether it has exceeded
powers granted by Congress.
Mr.. Patman said, "Our committee
Is convinced that the Emergency
Price Control Act has not been COM
piled with. Conditions are forced
upon retailers and wholesalers which
do not follow the provisions OF this
act This has caused no end OF trou-
BILE to retailers.
Retail Groups Urge Action.
The inquiry was ordered the Texan
added on the petition OF 19 national
retail distribution organiza tons rep
resenting some 100000 retail mer-
chants.
In addition, various operations OF
the OPA have been slated for study
by special House committee in
vestigating actions of Federal agen-
cies to determine whether they ex-
ceed authority granted by Congress.
Mr. Browns action in designating
Mr. Maxon. Detroit advertising
man, to review all OPA activities to
determine whether they will help or
hurt OPA's relations with the public
was regarded as significant. 1t
stressed the different trend of ad-
ministration advocated by Mr.. Brown
in contrast to the tough" policy
which prevailed under his prede-
cessor, Leon Henderson.
MaxOn's Custer Recommended.
1t was also regarded as significant
because of internal squabbling In
OPA about Mr.. Maxon in recent
weeks. The OPA Labor Advisory
Committee recently suggested Mr..
Maxons dismissal because of what
1t called his "avowed opposition to
grade labelling of canned foods"
Mr.. Brown said it was his policy
ito minimize as far as possible the
irritations to the public and to the
business community which neces-
sarily result from the operation of
OPA price control, rent control and
rationing."
Accordingly. he continued, Il have
delegated to Mr. Lou MaXon author
ity to review all actions which bear
on OPA relations with the public in
order to minimize irritations flowing
from them. This policy will help us
to deserve public confidence"
Mr.. Maxon. he explained, will not
have absolute veto power over pro-
posals of OPA technicians.
Meanwhile, Senator Wherry, Re-
publican, of Nebraska, told the Sen
ate yesterday that the people of his
State greatly admire George Wash
ington, but they are 'incensed' at
the recipe of OPA propaganda
giving the first Presidents views
on price control
Senator Wherry cited recent
manuscript sent out by the OPA
State headquarters in Nebraska.
and asserted Postoffice officials
should plug some of the leaks" IN
Government before raising second
class mail rates.
Senator Wherry told of a letter
from J. M. Harding, assistant to the
president of the Omaha World
Herald. complaining about The
sending of millions OF pounds of
mail matter" under Government
frank at time when the POST Once
Department has Tentatively sug-
gested' to the House Post Office
Committee an increase of one-haf
cent pound in rates on news con-
tent of publications and Two cents
a pound advertising contert.
Every member of The Nebraska
Bar Association received manu-
script entitled George Washington
on Price Control" and embracing
matter taken from the first Presi-
dents writings, Senator WheTry