Evening star., 1945-04-19
Retailers Urge
Delay in 0PA
Chart Directive
District Federation
Asks so Doys to
File Price Forms

Federation of Businessmen Asso-
Citations for a 60-day extension of
tomorrow's deadline for filing pric-
ing charts due under an OPA order
freezing prices and markups on ap-
parel and housefurnishings as of
March 10. Approximately 1900 To-
cal retailers are affected by the
order.
At a federation meeting last night
in the boardroom Of the American
Security & Trust Building, letter
from Vincent A. Holmes, District
OPA price executive, was read which
pointed out that by last Monday
only 2 per cent of the affected re-
tailers had filed pricing charts re-
quired under the order.
Mr.. Holmes reported today, how
ever, that by this morning about 20
per cent of the affected retailers had
filed charts and that he expected "a
rush" of mailed returns tomorrow
and Saturday.
approval Card" Sent Back.
Under the order, known to retail
ers as maximum price regulation
$50, sale of affected items in 300
categories is prohibited after May
4 unless the OPA has acknowledged
receipt of the completed chart.
The OPA acknowledgment, in the
form of an approval card" will be
mailed TO dealers after receipt of
the pricing chart, according to the
plan.
At the federation meeting, Theo-
dore P. Grape, an association mem
ber, said that. while he believed the
measure apparently was a fair
means of establishing a percentage
markup,% he said it would be impos-
sible in many cases for merchants
to comply with it in the allotted
time
To Name Committee.
Ray Dunno, Federation president,
said that committee would be ap-
pointed to discuss with OPA the Co.
day extension request.
Mr.. Holmes pointed out today that
the OPA has never issued regula-
tion which was so well explained"
to affected dealers here as MPR $50,
A mass meeting of dealers was held
in the Departmental Auditorium and
clinics and trade meetings followed,
he said. at which the entire field
covered by the order was discussed.
Carl w. Berueffy, chief District
OPA enforcement attorney, when
questioned today on enforcement of
the prohibition against sales after
May 4 in case pricing charts are not
filed and approved, said his Office
had no course other than to "use all
the powers of the act to make the
regula ton stick.
Enforcement in May.
"The regulation is absolutely clear
and there is not a retailer in town
who doesn't know that sales of
the items covered by the regula-
ton will be illegal after May 4
unless the requirements are met"
he said. AS things stand now, we
win begin enforcement Immediately
after May T."
Meanwhile, Arthur F.. Carroll,
federation secretary, said the CO.
day extension request was voted
because the OPA has called on
these retail merchants to furnish
a prodigious amount of detailed
information which It is humanly
impossible to supply within the
time allowed by the regulation"
Hebert Police Bill Favored.
Representative Hebert's revised
police bill proposing that all felonies
and the apprehension of felons come
under the direction of the Metro
politan Police, even when crimes are
committed in parks, was indorsed
by the organization. The Federation
never had acted on the original bill
which proposed complete merger
of the Metropolitan and Park Police
departments.
The federation also voted to sup
port Capital Transit's requests for
schedule notifications which are
now pending before the. Public
Utilities Commission.
Representative Buffet, Republi-
can, Of Nebraska, discussed his bill
proposing aids to small business
men, outlining plan where all
small incorporate companies would
be exempt from the major business
taxes for three years after estab-
lishment of the corporation.