Evening star., 1945-08-05
COP PIar
For Postwar America
Announced by Taft
Says Free Enterprise
System Should Be
Given More Freedom
By GOULD LINCOLN.

A Republican legislative pro-
gram designed to bring maxi
mum employment and maximum
business activity and to meet
the challenge of reconversion to
peace economy was announced
last night by Senator Taft OF
Ohio, chairman of the Senate
Republican Steering Committee.
He outlined the plan in a radio
addres sponsored by the Repub-
licaii National Committee.
You can't expect free enterprise
to work unless it is free" Senator
Taft said, listing seven steps which
he said should be taken to give
greater freedom.
His program also included legis-
lative proposals to improve social
welfare, provide for public works.
assure agriculture fair prices, and
to maintain industrial peace.
Calls for Full Program.
When Congress returns from its
vacation, the Ohio Senator insisted,
it should go to work on systematic
planned legislative program de-
signed to bring about progress,
prosperity and substantially full
employment"
Fortunately, the backlog of saw
ings and pent-up demand may come
to our assistance and prevent bad
results from our delay" he con-
tinued. Maximum employment and
maximum business activity, he said
can be secured only by employment
in private enterprise Government
payrolls could put only $4,000 men
to work. whereas the problem is to
provide employment for more than
so, 600, 900.
The first of the seven steps listed
by Senator Taft was to force the
OPA Ito adopt much more liberal
policy for the reconversion period
eliminating entirely nonessential ar
ticles. providing adequate prices fol
essential articles which will bring
thousands of new small concerns
into the business of manufacturing
needed goods and providing en-
ployment.
Drop Control of Wages.
II believe that all controls should
be removed from wages early in
1916. In spite of lot of nice talk
the OPA is clinging to every power
and imposing even more rigid con-
trolls on legitimate business while
black market operators flourish in
creasingly."
The second step, he said. was tc
require WPB to relax every con-
troll possible. f+>..
They are inclined to do so,' h,
commented, "but are hampered con.
tinually by the unreasonable de-
mands of the Army and the Navy
Unless controls are relaxed it viii
be impossible to start on new hous,
ing, farm machinery and reconver.
sion machinery, he said, adding tina
the British are months ahead O.
us In reconversion."
The third step, Mr.. Taft declared
is to halt the drafting of new men
1t should be forbidden, particularly
of men between 26 and 80 essentia
in industry, he said.
Drop Most VINO Rules.
His fourth step is to abolish mos
of the War Manpower regulation!
so that anyone can get a job from
anyone else, and the employment
agencies should become servic,
agencies under State control, CO.
ordinated by the Federal Govern.
ment."
He also proposed that the OWl
and other war agencies be abolishe<
except as they may be needed By
Admiral Nimitz and Gen. Mac.
Arthur in the war against Japan.
To establish sound fiscal pol.
ICY" halting increase in the publ,
debt and enacting a .'reconversior
tax bill fixing definite reduced
rates for the reconversion period.
Senator Taft proposed q recon.