Evening star., 1944-08-29
|bowIes Submits Plan
To Insure Stability
lin Postwar Economy
BIZ the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press,
SEATTLE. Aug. 20. Chester
Bowles, National Price Administra-
tor, last night offered an 11-point
program, in a speech before the
Seattle Chamber of Commerce, to
insure full production on farms and
in factories which he said was nee
essary to keep "a stable, full-em-
ployment economy" after the war.
He said I'VE can't go back" even
to our 1910 levels, which would mean
more than 30 per cent drop in the
present level Of production "and
shocking figure of 10000, 900 un-
employed-an increase of 10000 900
over the actual unemployment of
1940-assuming the same hours Of
labor as in 1910"
Program Outlined.
His economic program:
a. Governmental policies which
will keep price levels relatively sta
BILE.
2. Passage Of tax laws for the
reconversion and postwar period
which will encourage investment of
risk capital and discourage hoard
ing of savings by corporations or
individuals.
"3. We must encourage competi-
tive free enterprise in every way.
I mean freedom to compete: not
freedom to suppress competition.
q. Credit facilities and perhaps
research facilities should be made
available by the Government in
order to encourage small Arms to
get started and to help struggling
firms stay on their feet.
Farm Price Level Vital.
IS. Basic farm prices after the
war must, In my opinion, be main
tanned at profitable levels. Beyond
this we must encourage develop
ment of the family sized farm and
the use of greatly enlarged freezer
and cooler space to provide a steady
flow Of farm products throughout
the year.
Is. We must increase and broaden
our social security benefits for older
people and for people who are un-
employed.
81. We must encourage in every
way a vigorous program of hous-
ing and slum clearance. In 1910
more than one-third of the homes
in this country were in need of re-
placement or substantial repairs
The Government should establish
annual construction goals, always
through private enterprise and prl-
vate construction, as far as the
need can be met, to assure that
these goals are met.
Major Works Plan Needed.
"8. We must develop a major
works program on a bold and imag-
NATIVE scale in close cooperation
with States and municipalities.
g. We must encourage exports
to the maximum possible extent.
There are rs strategic materials, all
essential to the fighting of a mod
ern war, which are lacking to a
greater or lesser extent within the
boundaries of the United States.
The Government might consider a
program OF stock -piling such mate
rails to serve as guarantee that
no future war can cut us of from
vital supplies.
10. We must get rid of wartime
controls as quickly as possible, but
the problems Of reconversion can
not be solved by slogans or by SIM
ply driving the so-called bureau
Gratis out Of Washington.
I'll. We must continue-all of
us-to work closely together. Labor.
management and farmers can exert
tremendous group pressure on our
Government. During the next year
or two, these three ajor groups
will be Joined by a fourth-our re-
turning soldiers and sailors.
Unless our productive power is
fully unleashed and unless we are
running at full productive capac-
ity, these four major groups soon
Will be fighting among themselves
each for share of the meager eco
nomic pie.
Ihat can well lead to the even
tual collapse of our democracy.