The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-25
Observations
Bitter Arguments
Over Price, Wage
Law Foreseen
BY Helen EsSery

approaching a fight over price and
wage control laws that promises
10 equal in fury anything II has
experienced over the subsidy and
soldier vote issues.
The matter will come TO a head
when House and Senate begin con-
sidcration OF a bin TO extend He
OF the office Of Price Administra-
ton beyond June so. Into the
battle over price control will 20
that oHer wages, which have not
been held in line despite the Lit
Tie steel formula.
Representatives Brent Spence
% OF Kentucky. chairman of the
House banking and currency COM
mittee. and Jesse Z. Wolcott tR)
of Michigan, minority leader on
price control matters have agreed
10 begin hearings soon. Wolcott
has added that they will require
al least two months.
In the Senate. Senators Elmer
Thomas CD of Oklahoma, and FL
lison D. Cotton Ed Smith Cd OF
South Carolina. are Cldmoring for
complete revamping of OPA.
For the gigantic job these four
men have in mind, Congress viii
have little time to act before Juue
80. This has given rise to some
suspicion on the Republican side
that the administration hopes TO
drag the matter along until the
eleventh hour and then Jam through
A resolution continuing present
laws. The cor says it won't stand
for any such tactics. Thus the
battle lines form.
Senator Tom Connally. tall. leon
inc Texas Democrat. believes the
much criticized federal income tax
blanks should not be made too
simple The nations economy Is
complex and tax blanks have to he
complex TO fit complexities, Long
Tom holds. Too much simplicity
might mean more injustice, he
says
Latest word on recouversion is
that military and naval command
ers have warned the War Produc-
ton Board nor to raise-eiHllian
hopes TOO high by discussion Of the
matter.
Representative Of The high com
mand threshed the matter out with
WPB and persuaded all that FOR
PSYCHOLOGICAL reasons postwar
planning should be played down.
The asons-the war is not yet
won. definite victory trends in
Europe are yet in the offing and
production might be endangered by
too many workers quitting their
Jobs for places with better post
war futures.
Whenever workers see a plant
closed because of a cutback in
orders. although total production
is steadily mounting, there is 4
letdown in effort.
All these reasons. it Is said, are
behind WPB Chairman Donald
Nelson's recent statement that
large scale Ieconyersion must wait
a while.
Skilled observers point out that
while Great Britain, China and
the United States are working
hand in glove with Russia to beat
the Axis, the relationships are
strictly military.
Russia. they explain, has not
permitted herself to make any def
mite or firm commitments and
continues TO disclose her attitude
on foreign affairs through the gov
eminent controlled press instead
OF through the accepted diplomatic
channels The Reds thus free
themselves OF responsibility for Of
fetal statements-a practice which
diplomatists in Washington and
London regard as strictly against
the rules.
Meanwhile. Red troops grind on
ward bringing the U.S.S.R. closer
and closer TO control Of the central
European lands expected TO fig
ure in final peace negotiations.
Farm Bloc Mogul Ed O'Neil, pres
ident Of the American Farm Bu-
reau Federation, thinks Henry J.
Kaiser should be called upon TO
produce farm machinery in the
same way he is producing ships.
O'Neal admits that the war pro-
duction board is doing fair job
in getting farm machinery to farm
ers, but he thinks Kaiser could
perform another miracle and boost
food nrnducfion at the game time