The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-06-15
BY Esther Van WAGNER ruty

BY Esther Van Wagner Tufty
Three Michigan congressman are
right in the middle OF a turbulent
Price Control debate in the House.
Even before the debate started,
that was apparent. The Republi-
can from Port Huron, Jesse VOL
colt. ranking Republican member
Of the Banking and Currency Com.
mittee, has been the outspoken
recognized leader against subsi-
dies. Fred Crawford of Saginaw,
known as an independent think
err. Is also a member OF that COM
mittee. The congressman from
Adrian, Earl Kitchener, isn't a
member OF the committee, but was
involved in the fate OF Price Con.
troll extension expiring June 30.
After all. it was up to Michener's
Rules Committee to decide what
kind Of a rule this controversial
bill would enjoy in the House.
Thereby hangs a tale not to be
quickly forgotten in the halls OF
Congress. In solemn session the
Rules Committee met to decide
what procedure on the floor would
govern this bill aimed against in
fation carefully and painfui.y
worked out by the Banking and
Currency Committee. One Com
mittee member, conservative Vir.
ginian Howard Smith. didn't think
the bill inclusive enough. The men,
bers OF the committee like TO play
ball with their 10 colleagues. Ana
did. Smiths proposal was otfen.
sive to the bill-drafting Banking
and Currency Committee, as 1t
provided an umbrella for severaI
proposals absolutely outside the
field Of price control and wage
sterilization" as Jesse Wolcott
put it. adding that these matters
should be referred TO the proper
legislative committees, so that
we will not have to hide behind
the price control bill"
The always Intellectually hon.
est" Kitchener agreed with VOL.
colt He was not one OF the COM
mittee OF "obstructionists" who
were properly spanked by the
House when Speaker Sam Rayburn
called the action of the Rules Com
nittee the "trespassing OF one
House Committee on the rights
perogatives, and privileges OF 9TH
er committees.
Fred Crawford OF Saginaw didn't
see eye to eye with the other two
Michigan Republicans. He wasn't
fussy about the rules and proce-
dures. he wanted the Smith recon-
mendations aired in the House.
ut was more than Just precedent
for the Rules Committee-it was
precedent of the House to get it.
self in a position to have to repu-
date its own committee" he said.
Crawford even went further and
criticized his own committee. 1T
the Banking and Currency Com
mittee had been sufficiently aggres.
sive to make its own investigation.
no jurisdictional battle would
have resulted"
With this settled. debate goes on
under normal procedure. Resolu-
lions. amendments and special
committee reports are clouding the
main issue which Is to control
prices so that war initiation may
he averted. This must be done in
two weeks II Congress is to re-
cess in order to attend the Re-
publican and Democratic conven.
tons
It is widely predicted on the Hill
that the OPA will go through pref
~ much as is, despite heated and
confused attempts at modification.
The most disappointed Michigan
Congressman this week was Al.
bert Engel. who at the last minute
was unable to attend the Salute
TO Manpower' program celebrat-
ing the presentation OF the Ma
tons first M" (for manpower)
pennant to the Muskegon area for
its efficient utilization OF manpow-
er and immigrant labor
Commented Engel. "Muskegon
has worked hard to earn this
award. It's problems have been
many and the road leading to the