Evening star., 1945-07-01
.WageControIs
To Be Eased,
vinson Says
Reconversion Plans
Coll for Lower Tuxes
And Public Works
By JAMES Y. NEWTON,

trolls will be relaxed In compen-
sation for loss of high wartime
pay, War Mobilization Director
Vinson last night detailed recon-
version plans calling for positive
Government approach to the
problem to prevent depression
from coming to us as the guest
of peace"
High wages, lower taxes, unem-
ployment compensation and public
works form the backbone of the pro-
gram in which Mr.. Vinson outlined
a heavy role for Government rather
than policy Of letting things go'
as necessary to assure smooth ma
tional transition to peacetime life.
Mr.. Vinson, making public his
quarterly report to Congress and the
President, declared that Govern
ment and the Nation must be pre-
pared for an early end of the jap
anese war. But he did not indicate
a belief the war would be short and
pointed out that the munitions pro-
duction goal for 1916 is only third
less than the peak two-war output.
|. Mr.. Vinson did not say when wage
controls would be eased, but other
tofficials said 1t would be done in
four to eight weeks. He stated 1--WE
must be prepared to make some up
ward adjustments to compensate for
severe declines in take-home pay,
He explained in a news conference
he meant increases in wage rates
above Little Steel formula limits.
Wants Minimum Raised.
Making clear the Official Govern
ment position on substandard pay
issues, Mr. Vinson asked Congress to
raise the statutory minimum wage
from 40 cents to "at least so cents
an hour, with provision for further
lpermissive increase to higher level
by the industry committees" pro-
vided for in the Fair Labor Stand
ards Act.
In stressing the necessity for
granting wage rate relief for work
ers when high-pay war jobs dwindle
Mr.. Vinson declared that savings tc
employers, resulting from reduction
of overtime premiums, downgradins
of jobs and increased manufacturing
efficiency, would permit some rise
i'm wages without compensatint
lrise In prices"
bs-In event OF early collapse of Japan
which some industriaiists have saic
wou1d bring us close to economic
disaster, the mobilization chief In.
dicated that a great public work.
program and broadened tinemploy.
ment insurance would have to carry
most Of the load, until industry coulc
be regeared to high, speed peace.
time operation. He said present plan,
for a postwar works program mus
be enlarged and blueprintinf
speeded.
The Vinson program was included
/ in his lengthy quarterly report
titled, 'The Road to Tokyo anc
Beyond" Tone of the report wa.
that the Government has respon.
sibility to guide the Nation in re-
converting to peace, just as it hac
in gearing for war.
Encourages Business.
While emphasizing that workers
income must be kept high in order
to assure full production and en-
ployment after the war, the program
announced by Mr.. Vinson was def
nitely friendly and encouraging tc
business. He called for full Coop
Grafton of business, labor and agri-
culture in helping to whip the
problems ahead
He said that reductions in war
production programs had been
slower than most people predicted
on We day but warned the cut
will be rapid from now on and will
be accompanied soon by sizable in
creases in unemployment.
| Mr.. Vinson indicated that prob
lens Of producing for a one-front
war would be few outside OF some
specialized fields such as ship re-
pair. He envisioned the dropping
of 10000 tons of bombs upon Japan
in single day, or double what Ger
many got in the days of heaviest
assault" He said there must be
heavier supplies of bombs and am
munition than were used in Europe
Barring unforeseen bottlenecks
Mr.. Vinson said, civilians could lool
forward to temperance In 81,
months of such things as automo.
biles. refrigerators and washing
machines on dealers floors ''but in
such limited quantities that the,
won't stay there long," He predicted
however, that year from now pro.
duction of civilian hard goods" will
exceed the 1889 level
/ Foed, Fuel on Short Side.
/ On the dark side for the home.
front, he said the months aheas
4 would bring to z per cent less food
i possibly a more serious coal suppl,
situation; no more fuel oil thar
last winter; most crowded transpcr.
/ lSee WAGE CONTROLS, Page AS.
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