Evening star., 1946-12-19
Taft Urges Business,
Labor 10 Keep in Line
To Avoid Depression
BY The Assoeiutsd Press

Senator Taft, Republican, OF
Ohio today called on business to
keep prices down and on labor to
refrain from unreasonable"
wage demands to avoid any pos
sible economic recession In 1947.
Senator Taft, who heads the policy
making Senate Republican Steering
Committee, said he thinks President
Truman's economic advisers should
have placed more stress In their
first annual report on the "tremen-
dous responsibility" Of labor and
management to keep prices and
wages in line.
Mr.. Truman, who made the re-
port public at his news conference
yesterday, said he doesn't agree with
his advisers suggestion that there
may be dip" in business next year.
The outlook for the country is
good and will continue to be good,
the Chief Executive told a ques-.
toner, II we can just get people to
stay at work. He added that nobody
wants any strikes at all, that he
didn't think any of the recent ones
were necessary.
To Propose Legislation.
The President said he will make
specific recommendations to Con-
gress on legislation to carry out the
proposals of his advisers, who cau-
toned that more than ordinarily
favorable outlook for Jobs and pro-
duction in the next few years ought
not to lull Government ofhcials into
"a drifting" policy.
When a reporter remarked that
the Economic Councils report
seemed to indicate not much legis-
lation would be necessary next year,
Mr.. Truman said he was glad to
hear that.
The council, set up by Congress
earlier in the year, is headed by DR..
Edwin c. Nourse.
As a member Of the Senate-H House
committee charged with acting on
the Presidents economic recon-
mendations before February /. Sem
ator Taft said he is in accord with
the councils observation that any
threatened setback can be overcome
by courageous and sensible action"
on the part Of business and labor.
Sees No Need for Rapid Action.
1T is encouraging to find Gov
ernment commission stating so
soundly the general principles un-
Gerlying continued employment and
prosperity" the Ohio Senator COM
mented, but I doubt if it lays suf-
f1cient stress on the tremendous re-
sponsibility resting on business to
keep its prices down and on labor to
refrain from unreasonable demands
| for increased wage rates"
Senator Taft said he saw nothing
in the report requiring immediate
congressional action, although he
has indicated he will support active
ly some changes In the laws regu-
lating labor-management relations
The President said he intends te
state to Congress in clear and un-
derstandable terms any changes he
may want in labor laws.
I oClAatI ohS11k1SA0p 1sSkdbhSdll, vi
South Dakota said 1t is his feeling
that Congress will have to take
some action to "equalize" bargain.
ing power between the unions ano
management before there can be
any assurance of the industrial
peace the council indicated is neces-
sary to keep production rolling full
| blast.
Some Labor Curbs Predicted.
This action is likely to take the
| form of restrictions on some OF
labor's authority, Senator Bushfleld
predicted, ,.,s..,...s .assy7
Senator Hickenlooper, Republican,
of Iowa said he agrees with the
economic advisers that there will
be q recession next year unless in
dustrial labor disputes can be set
tied, Government spending is re-
duced and free enterprise Is per-
mitted to go to work"
The council urged that the coun-
try choose a middle course between