The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-11-29
Observations
Here's Reason OPA
Was Slow on
Car Price List

" ahA4uE lOA-hA now Aupbe NM
lions Of American ialoppy drivers
who won't believe the war is really
for-sure over until they find them
selves toolinE a glistening new car
through the traffic have a pretty
fair idea what sad glIstening new
car is going 10 set them back In
the haukroll.
The office Of Price Administra-
lions announced ceiling prices on
the new 1876 models indicates that,
on the average, they won't cost
any more than the 1912 Jobs did.
However. what has puzzled those
millions OF American jaloppy driv'
ers with streamlined dreams is why
the good news was so long in get
tinC 10 him.
Weeks and weeks ago. OPA was
all set 10 announce the new car
prices Price Administrator Ches-
Ter Bowler said that these prices
would be revealed IN -four or five
days. The deadline came and
went and receded into the past.
Still no news.
What forced postponement OF the
price announcement until iust the
other day was one Of the most
powerful Hobbies Washington has
ever seen.
The automobile dealer who would
be required TO absorb manuiac-
turers' price increases under the
OPA plan converged on Congress
and gained a hearing before the
House Small Business committee.
So potent were their activities
that more than 800 congressman
registered their presence at the
first session. About half OF them
remained for the meeting.
sss
Secretary OF State Jimmy Byrnes
was anything but diplomat at
recent news conference.
Byrnes was asked why the de-
partment permitted week TO
elapse before denying dispatch
from Ankara, Turkey. which stat
ed that the United States would
back that country against the Rus
SLAMS over the issue OF the Oar
danelles.
Apparently. the secretary was in
a bad mood that day. He snapped
back at the inquiring reporter with
the remark that the press and ra-
do held no right to demand any
statement from the State Depart
ment.
The secretary could have brush
ed the whole matter aside by say
ing that It took just long enough
10 check all the facts and TO get
such a statement cleared by all
concerned.
Naturally, Byrnes' statement will
not be soon forgotten, either by
the $50 reporters and radio com
mentators present or by some mem
bers of Congress who have charged
in the past that the department has
been unwilling TO keep Capitol Hill
or the American public informed
concerning international affairs.
Some congressman were convers-
ing in the lobby OF the House Of
Representatives. One was express
ing himself to an other as being
very perturbed" over the growing
number Of persons out on STRIKE
What is the latest you've heard
on that?" he inquired.
II don't know commented
member OF the group, but I've
heard that there are 81 million
people still working"
Administration leaders in the
House now have but little hope
that President Humans unemploy-
ment emergency legislation can be
resurrected and passed.
The Senate-approved bill has -.
been pigeon-holed by the House
ways and means committee and
there is nothing so far TO indicate
that 1t intends to reverse itself.
The heat" has been put on four
Democratic members to reverse
themselves and permit the legisla-
ton 10 come before the House for
vote, but apparently without
avail. The four Democrats Joined
with the Republicans in voting TO
defer consideration indefinitely"
Mr.. Truman originally asked
Congress to establish a national
maximum unemployment compen.
sation Of $25 for rs weeks, but the
Senate deleted this provision.