Evening star., 1943-06-19
COP Senators Move
To Join House in
Revolt Against 0PA
Lower Chamber SIoshes
Ageney's Funds 20 Pct,
Bors Price Subsidies

against the OPA today, following
a series Of moves in the House
yesterday to trim the agency's
budget by 20 per cent and re-
strict its price fixing functions.
While the lower chamber was
casting votes to slash OPA's funds
and outlaw price rollbacks through
the use of subsidies, a group of "A
Republican Senators was demand
ing similar action on legislation af-
fecting the subsidy program. This
bloc demanded vote "at the
very earliest possible date" on pro-
posals which range from a restric-
tiOn of the amount OF subsidies to a
prohibition Of any Government
funds for price decreases meas
ure which would be like that passed
by the House
The offensive against OPA came
suddenly in the House yesterday
during consideration Of a 81. .898, ,94l. :
5O4 war agency appropriation bill
and caught administration leaders
almost entirely unprepared. Repub-
licans, Joined by recalcitrant Demo-
Gratis, seized the opportunity to blast
the agency headed by Prentiss M.
Brown.
Diksen Leads Attack,
The attack got under way when
Representative Dirksen, Republican.
OF Illinois, proposed a reduction Of
5000 900 in OPA funds for the
next II months, choppine them to
$l30, 900 900, compared with S177,-
! 1886 900 appropriated last year. Re-
publicans almost solidly supported
the amendment, which was adopted,
1875 TO rat.
Mr.. Dirksen then wrote into the
bill, on vote of 16o to LOG. his anti
subsidy amendment, which pro-
vided in effect that none of OPA's
funds may be used for the salaries
or expenses OF any employees pro-
mitigating or administering subsidy
programs.
He followed with a third amend
ment, accepted 1873 to l44, denying
salary or expenses to any price
policy-making of1icial, except the
administrator, who has not had at
least five consecutive years of ex-
perience in the field OF business in
which he is helping to shape OPA
policy.
Representative Andersen, Repub-
lican, of Minnesota then drove
through amendments restricting
price fixing in accordance with the
Price Control Act and barring use of
any of the funds for programs in
volving the grade labelling of food
or Standardization of wearing ap-
parel.
In moving for the 20 per cent
slash in OPA's budget. Mr. Dirksen
said the agency has ignored the
wishes of Congress BLACK mar
kets will spread throughout the
country" ne argued, unless Congress
curtails OPAs activities.
There was no roll call vote on the
subsidy ban. On the amendment to
cut OPA's funds the lineup was:
For the amendment-26 Demo-
Gratis, 1856 Republicans, 8 minor party
members.
Against it-l35 Democrats, IL Re-
publicans, ! minor party member.
Representative Patman. Democrat,
Of Texas. said adoption of the Dirk
sen amendment would kill the
whole food rollback program" and
in addition would end such subsidies
as those covering extra transporta-
ton costs of oil TO the East, and the
mining of strategic metals. All these
receive funds from Reconstruction
Finance Corp. subsidiaries.
The House vote came as dis
patches told Of varIou, packing house
shutdownS. with many of the slaugh-
tering men blaming OPA policies and
uncertainties over the subsidy pay
| ments.
Danger to Efficiency Seen.
Opponents of the 20 per cent slash
/ pleaded that too deep cut in OPA
funds would make it difficult, If not
impossible, for that agency to ad-
minister price-control laws. Even
Representative Smith. Democrat, OF
/ Virginia, one of OPA's most fire.
quent critics, opposed the amend
ment.
Approval of Mr.. Dirksen's amend
ment was the first victory for an
economy bloc. an earlier effort by
Representative Taber, Republican
of New York to lop $4,000, 900 from
funds of the Board of Economic
Warfare having been defeated by a
149to-l34 vote.
The war agencies appropriation
bill left intact funds for the follow
ing agencies as recommended by the
Appropriations Committee.
Board of Economic Warfare. $685.
100000; Office of Censorship, ST.
100000; Petroleum Administration
for War, S5,473.OoO; Once of Stra-
tegic Services, $4,000, 900; Division
Of Central Administrative Services
SO, ,567 200; Office of Civilian Defense
/ 81, 900 900; Co-ordinator of Inter-
American Affairs $50, ,685 900. plus
contract authority for $4,000, 900;
Office Of Defense Transportation.
$l4,650,00 Office of Economic Sta
bilization, 100000: War Labor
Board. sl3,841 300; ONCE of Scien-
tific Research and Development
Sl35 .982 500; War Production Board
S88 200 900; Smaller War Plants
Corp, $12006,0 900 from corpora
tons capital stock); War Relocation
Authority, s4S,170000. and War
Shipping Administration, $2,272 $780,
900.
The House cut the ONCE OF War
1nformation's funds by $500 900.
The total in the bill. allowing for
the deductions in OPA and Owl
funds. was s2,8s0 GAL ,504, in addition
to slS,000.00 in contract authorize
fin,,