Evening star., 1946-07-05
Buyers Strike
Planned for DC.
Next Thursday
| One-Doy Protest
| Called to Drumotize
| Price-ControI Need
(Picture on Pace A-3.J

next Thursday to show the pub
lie demand for price control be-
gan today at strategy confer
ence of the Citizens Price De-
fense Committee, representing
48 organiza tions.
John P. Anderson, chairman. an
nounced that the public will be
asked not to buy anything on that
day. He said the strike will be ad-
vertised by more than $4,000 leaflets,
at numerous neighborhood meetings,
radio announcements and newspa-
per publicity.
Following rally to protest
against imitation at Sylvan Theater
yesterday afternoon, committee
members were called to meet this
morning in the oces of the Southern
Conference for Human Welfare at
935 G place NV.
"Cost- plus" Protested.
Mr.. Anderson said the committee
this week would keep up its fight
against any "cost-plus" formula in
the price bill now before the Senate.
Whether 1910 or 1941 is considered
as the base period would make little
difference, the plan would cost the
public a tremendous sum, he said.
President Truman will have to
stop somewhere. He can't veto all
the bills. 1t is up TO the people to
show Congress that the Nation will
accept no compromise" he de-
clared.
Abolition of the OPA already has
brought an increase of from to 6
per cent in the cost of living, Oliver
T. Palmer, vice president of the
washington Industrial Union Coun-
Gil, CIO, charged at the Sylvan
Theater rally.
A crowd of about 300 clustered
around the rallying point, south OF
the Washington Monument. Mr..
Anderson estimated that he plea
for price control was heard by more
than 5000 persons gathering for the
Independence Day celebration. Loud
speakers carried the addresses as
far as the Cavalcade of Freedom
platform on the opposite side of the
Monument
Meat Deliveries Increase.
The demonstration came as IN.
dustry leaders predicted a 20 per
cent increase in the price of meat
here. Deliveries of meat to WASH
lngton increased today. and dealers
expected large quantities starting
Monday. 1t will take three or
four days before most groceries
and restaurants benefit from the
flow operators estimated
Joseph B. Danzansky, counsel for
the meat division of the Merchant
:, and Manufacturers Association
said the meat would cost whole
salers 20 per cent above ceiling
prices and they will have to pass
it on to the consumer.
Mr.. Palmer warned that labor
unions will start by demanding an.
other Is per cent increase in pay il
prices get out of control
i Democracy is no good on an
empty stomach added Samuel
Rodman. representative of the
Southern Conference. Nothing but
Government regulation will main
tain our country's equilibrium dur
ing the period of reconversion.
I Mrs. Minnie F. Rands, consumer
chairman of the Federation OF
! Women's Clubs, told of veteran
VINO received triple damages for a
$3.50 overcharge on a secondhand
car. He learned that the price was
unfair after he had paid it.
But that was on June /. He ha.
no recourse today she remarked.
Meat Prices to Soar.
Mr.. Danzansky estimated the pric:
OF meat to the wholesaler at from
i 80 to SO cents, the price to the re.
taller at from "a to 40 cents and the
price to the consumer 20 per cen,
more.
| Mr.. DanZansky asserted that the
farmer would refuse to come doW1
to ceiling prices even if price contro
is restored and predicted terrible
black market"
i The idea that black market meat
does not come through the FEEDER
ally inspected slaughterers is ''ridic
ulous,' he remarked. Uninspectet
slaughtering accounts for only 6
drop in the bucket" but the indus.
try has adopted the term "over.
ceiling transaction" in which tn,
operator must charge more to de.
fray the cost to him, while reservins
the term black marketeer" for tn,
; man who came into the industr,
; during the war to make a killing
Mr.. Danzansky explained.
He predicted competition will brin
{, prices down without controls.
Supplies to Move Quickly.
Mr.. DanZansky said the meat viii
F.. move as quickly as it arrives sine,
> dealers are paying more for it ant
might get stuck if Congress re
stores ceiling prices. He deprecated
rumors that meat packers woult
hold back for fear of soaring Con
gress by an immediate jump il
prices and in hopes that meat cell
ings will be eliminated permanently
permitting them to charge what tn
market will bear.
Some persons are all too willin,
? to attribute sinister motives t,
: businessmen" he remarked. The
2 stand to suffer from imitation jus
!, as every one else"
Meanwhile, the National Emer
e gency Committee for Price Contrc
: called for the organization of "pric
e patrols" consisting of veteran,
0 workers and housewives to repor
and publicize break -throughs Q
established price or rent ceilings.
The national committee office a
100 Third street Sc. will act as
clearing house for information o.
price increase and will report "out
rageous increases to Representa-
tives and Senators.
S 1t will take a week to tell Whethe
/ a Scent increase in the price of
quart of milk has reduced the mum
/. Der of buyers, Edward L. Koepenicl
4 attorney for 10 Washington dairie
e said. There were quite a few can
1 cellations of orders for milk owe
3 July 4. but it could be attributed t
: the holiday, he reported.