Evening star., 1945-10-30
Truman 10 Chart
Path on Wages,
Prices Tonight
Radio Talk Expected
To Urge Cost Control,
Increased Salaries
MEETING SCHEDULED to seek to
avert impending Greyhound strike
here. Story on page AS.
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

~~~~~~~~ - AVA w = oANs
President Truman tonight will
chart the Nations course on
wages and prices in 10 pm.
broadcast over all major radio
networks.
1t is expected that he win advo-
cate no formula for all industry
to follow, but will call for continued
control of prices and appeal to
management to raise wages out of
profits where possible to keep liv-
ing standards high.
Mr. Truman has figures at hand
to show that substantial segment
of industry can go long way to-
ward compromising labor's demand
for 80 per cent higher pay without
getting more for its products. It
was said he will recommend that
such adjustments be made through
full utilization of collective bar
gaining rather than by any Gov =
ernment edict or formula.
Regarded as Vital Speech.
The President, who Cancelled all
out-of-town trips for month ahead
because of the pressure of work
here, was busy in putting finishing
touches to his wage-price speech,
regarded as one of the most i'm
portant since he took Office last
spring.
Mr.. Truman's remarks tonight :
will affect the pocketbook of nearly
every American. It was said that
while he is firmly committed to a
"hold-the-line" policy on prices, his
plan will make some provision for
price increases necessary for correc-
ton of wage 'inequities."
This exception, however, would
not 60 so far, for example, as to al
low price adjustments to a major
industry like automobile manufac-
turing so that they could satisfy the
CLOS wage demands.
Little Give on Price Line"
There will be a little give on the
price line, but not much" was the
way one official expressed it.
Reconversion Director Snyder's
Advisory Committee met a second
time on wage-price policy yesterday
and scheduled another session for
today. 1t was regarded unlikely
that the committee would present a
concrete proposal, although many
members were said to feel that
much of industry could lift wages
out of profits.
! Federal labor officials hoped that
the Presidents talk to the Nation
would have the effect of breaking
the deadlock on wages which has
existed between labor and manage
ment almost since the Japanese sur
render. They said there has been
much discussion but little genuine
bargaining on the problem.
Truman Meets With Green.
Following his announced intention
of talking with as many as possible
OF the 36 delegates d. to the labor
management conference which op-
ems here next Monday, Mr.. Truman
yesterday met with the AFL group
headed by President William Green.
Today, the President conferred
with George Meaney, AFL secre-
tary, and James M Duffy, president
of the National Brotherhood of Op-
erative Porters.
Daniel j. Tobin, president of the
AFL Teamsters, also had been in
vited today, but he notified Mr.. Tru-
man he would be unable to come
here before Sunday because of
many serious threatened stoppages
OF work in which the Teamsters' Un-
ion may become involved"
Later in the week the President
is expected to call in the CIO, Mine
Leader John l.. Lewis and top in
dustry representatives. If Mr.. Lewis
goes to the White House it will be
his first visit there since December,
l941, following his break with the
late President Roosevelt.
! The labor management confer
ence, which Mr.. Truman will open,
is expected to work out broad agree
ments designed to bring about more
peaceful relations between the two
segments of the Nations economy.
Meanwhile, John R. Steelman,
former head of the Labor Depart
ment's Cancellation Service, was
sworn IN as special assistant to
the President. A man of wide ac-
quaintance in both labor and in
dustry, Mr.. Steelman is expected
to be Mr.. Truman's number l
troubleshooter. His first assignment
will be labor, and he probably will
serve as White House haison with
the abor-management conference.