Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-08-09
Political
Action
by
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman
of the

responsibility to make the
best possible use of it. The
main features of the new bill
are the following:
y Restoration of price and
rent control until June 80,
1947, but with divided author
ity and more relaxation. p
Rent control to continue as
before. 81 The new law sets
up a three man Decontrol
Board to determine which
items shall be allowed price
increases, and how much. 4)
Ceilings on meat, dairy prod
ucts and grain will be re-
established on Aug. 21st un-
less the board otherwise de-
crees. 81 There will be no
controls on poultry, eggs, pc
troleum and tobacco unless
ordered by the board. g. The
board has authority to remove
controls on other items. y
Subject to the boards final
approval, the Secretary of
Agriculture decides which
farm products shall be subject
to price control. 81 OPA will
continue to set prices on in
dustrial goods, but these will
be greatly relaxed. 81 Prices
for manufacturers will be set
on an indusry-wide basis.
10) The new OPA will allow
profits to cover increased cost.
In other words, in the case of
autos no matter how many
are sold nor how high the
total sales, the rate of profit
on each individual auto shall
be no less than the level of
March 81, 1946. (This dilly is
a boon for the auto manufac-
turers). I'D Subsidies to hold
down food prices were cut
from So billion to 81 billion.
12) The requirement that
manufacturers must produce
low priced goods, mainly
clothing and household goods,
in the same percentage as be-
fore the war was an essential
part of the old OPA. It is
omitted in the new law.
BAD LAW
Bad as this bill is, it can be
still worse through poor ad-
ministration. Under the terms
of the law, the Decontrol
Board determines whether or
not the basic foods shall be
put under price control. 1t
happens, and not by coinci-
dence, that this three man De-
control Board is composed of
two bankers and one manu-
facturer.
The course we must follow
is difficult, but crystal clear.
We must recognize the fact
that the wealthy interests are
spending money to assure that
plenty of pressure for price
relaxation is brought to bear
on the Decontrol Board. The
halls of OPA, the department
of Agriculture, and the White
House are filled with lobby
lists representing those who
wish to let prices soar.
We must demand, first of
all, that since consumers,
are not represented in adj
viSory position be established
for a representative of the
consumers interests. Next,
we must swamp the President
with mail, informing him that
we fully expect the soundest,
and most efficient administra-
tion Of the new OPA.
Situations like this one
clearly demonstrate that poll
icians by nature, vote which
ever way will assure them the
most votes in the next cleo
ton. On the OPA issue the re-
dictionary elements, and not
the people at large, were
headed by most of the legiSla-
tors. If an individual office
seeker, or holder, had no lean
lngs, either liberal or conser-
vatlve, 1t is only natural that
he would vote the way he be-
lieved would get him the most
votes at the next election.
We may as we'll face the
fact that the reactionaries are
Cor at least have been) better
organized to get out the con-
servative vote, than we have
to get out the liberal vote. The
tide can be turned if more ac-
tive union-minded people will
join PAC and become active
in our Ward and Precinct or
ganization.
Membership in PAC is only
one dollar per year and in
cludeS membership in the Ma
tional, State and County PAC
as we'll as your own neighbor-
hood Ward or Township Club.
If you are not member, see
the PAC representative at your
shop or local, or come to the
PAC office at 425 Winthrop
st. and join now.
Wh0 yUOu tbn Xuar apubnNu9