Detroit evening times., 1943-06-16

~, Ittcf leIHlHS, COiISulldll
Iestroy private brands and
business WAS Initiating prices
and decreasing quality. ! don't
believe public officials should
he permitted 10 make irrespOn-
Sible charges like that without
standardization
Rep. Charles A HallcCk of In
diana, author OF the inquiry, cut
IN, saying
This Indictment Of industry
hy the OPA u not new. DIR.
!. II. GaIbraith, the one-time
policy maker who has resigned
from the OPA. said that indus
trV was on a runaway ride
with prices going up and quail
ity going down.
This committee has heard
no standardization Of hat
charge. Every bit Of evidence
-hefare- This committee has inti--
Gated that in the rayon hosiery
field. and In other fields, the
quality has constantly been inn
proving. while prices have re-
manned stationary.
CASE is DESTROYED
"If there has been no quality
deterioration. the ease for
MPR- -33s-tthp hosiery stand
ardiZatlon order ~ destroyed,
and the case for all Of OPAs
Standardization program van
ishe~."
Haley seemed flustered He
suffered and heSltated. He
didn't. it was apparent, have any
names nr facts 10 back his
charge. Brown. driving home the
point, SAID
II want the names tomorrow
Of firms who have increased
prices and defisted quality. !
want the OPA To make good on
that charge-or withdraw it,
The other OPA witness yeSter-
DAY. Fleming, had almost equally
as bad A time Of II. He comes
from the firm Of Salant & Salant.
New York CItN. makers of work
shirts He receives $40 z dav for
acting As OPA'S consultant IN the
field He opened by saying
II never wrote hook. and
didn't even 20 10 college.
INDICTMENT OF OPA
Halleck. after the hearing said
That was indictment enough
~ the OPA-the mere fact that
a businessman in OPA should
feel called upon 10 make that
explanation"
Fleming. hard pressed said
that the OPAs program would
eliminate private brands. He
said his firm was willing 10 do n
because they thought IL would ne
only q war measure.
Fleming said he did not agree
with OPA'S system OF dollar and
cents ceilings for standard brands
NJ merchandise. He said he rec
commended system of 'markups
fixed additions 10 production
rostS A basis for price control
Later he said ne didn't believe IN
markupS thought they wouldn I
work He added
"OPA. the Lord knows, has
It's faults
He said he didn't know who sci
OPA policies that ne Just sort Of
followed them. They we're set. he
said. by some one higher up
And ne admitted that. though he
Was industry representative he
didn't write any Of the orders,
though nc vas consulted How
ever. ne said. his recommended
tonS on dollars and cents ceilings
were not followed:
And he said
"The OPA needs men from
busineSs-top flight business
men who know how to get
things done-if there Ia 10 he
any improvement"
He seemed 70 he speaking as 2
business man then A little later.
As an ,OPA official. ne said
THE OPA's men are as in
tereeted in the welfare of the
country as any Others. To get
rid of these So-callpd crack
pots. the economists and law
yPrs.' would he = grave mistake.
They need and deserve help"
IN DARK on PAY ROLL
Rep Lyle Boren OF Oklahoma
committee chairman. asked MIN
why there weren't more practical
men in OPA now. He didn't
know. he didn't know the total
OPA pay roll, nor how many
lawyers were on II.
He said he didn't know whether
OPA had authority 10 fix prices
Rep Brown said:
Don't you think N would he
splendid idea for YOU 10 find
out before YOU take part in this
program ."
HalleCk asked,
Wouldn't the OPA stand
ardization program eliminate
brands ."
Fleming came hack with an
answer which, members of the