Evening star., 1943-01-17
Wide Shake-up
of 0PA Is Seen
Under Brown
Pressure Reported
Used by Democratic
Committee
By ALFRED TOOMBS.

A thorough-going shake-up Of
the Office of Price Administra-
ton. designed to make that
agency more politically accept
able, is being contemplated when
Leon Henderson steps out as ad-
ministrator this week.
Strong forces are being marshalled
to bring pressure on Mr.. Henderson's
successor. former Senator Brown OF
Michigan, to effect sweeping reor-
ganization of the price and rationing
agency, it was learned.
The Democratic National Com
mittee has taken an active interest
in the proposed reorganization, and
officials of that organization are
planning to confer with Mr.. Brown
at the earliest opportunity.
The committee officials were
understood to be urging that num-
ber of OPA officials, whose actions
have not met with favor in political
circles, be removed. To replace
these officials, the committee is pre-
pared to recommend appointment Of
men whose names have been cleared
through party channels.
Early Action on Brown Seen.
Mr.. Henderson, who has been the
center of a violent political storm
almost since the day he started
OPA functioning, will leave his lob
just as soon as Mr.. Browns nominal
ton has been confirmed by the
Senate. This may take place by
Tuesday.
Mr.. Henderson has almost COM
pletely lost the sight of one eye, it
was learned, and will leave for a
vacation in the South on the adj
vice of physicians-who told him
that three more months of over
work would have brought on blind
ness.
When he leaves Washington this
week, Mr.. Henderson will be going
off "the Boss" payroll for the first
time since the New Deal came in to
power. He started here with the
NRA.
Well-informed officials insist that
Mr.. Henderson's resignation was en-
tirely voluntary and that he could
have stayed on If he wished. In his
more candid moments, however, Mr..
Henderson had admitted that the
OPA had become increasingly a
political liability.
This view of the matter was
shared thoroughly by leaders of the
Democratic Party. In fact, the
political leaders have decided that
the OPA was largely responsible for
the Democratic defeats in last falls
congressional elections.
Brown Popular on Hill.
Mr.. Brown, in contrast to Mr..
Henderson, enjoys popularity on
Capitol Hill, and it was understood
that he has already held conversa-
StChA' WARAA AAdAlJ Va lIlS COl-
leagues relative to changes in the
price administration.
More suggestions will be forthcom-
ing from these sources, it was in
dicated, and the Democratic Conn
mlttee is prepared to pass along to
Mr.. Brown any recommendation
which members of Congress may
make.
While there are some individuals
in OPA who have offended members
OF Congress, the chief complaint
from Capitol Hill is directed at
policies-rather than men.
Political figures have suggested
that new officials might handle the
OPA program in more polite
fashion. And there are about 200
jobs in salary brackets between
$4,000 and $1,000 which could be re-
filled.
But it will be extremely difficult
for the new price administrator to
move too fast in firing and hiring.
The men now handling the ration
ing and price jobs are almost the
only people in the country who have
had any experience at such tasks.
Needs Experienced Men.
Mr.. Brown will need some expert
enced men in facing the complex
problems that await him. The diff
ficulties of the job have been in
creased measurably in recent months
because of the gradual loss of au-
thority by OPA
During his last days in Office, Mr.,
(See OPA, Page A-22.)