The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-18
OPA Conferees Spar in Vain
BorkIeys Amendment 
 Stormy Sessions
 Produce Nothing
 But Hard Feelings

WaShlngtOn, July Io - CUP) - Irate Senate and House conferees, accusing each other of causing delay, renewed their bitter argu- ments today over legislation to revive the OPA.
 As the joint conference on price legislation met for the third straight day, there was agreement among the IA members on only one score-that no settlement would be reached to- day.
 Brightest hope on an agreement was voiced by Senate Democratic Leader Alben w. Barkley, Ky, who thought 1t might come sometime to- morrow
 Charge Senators Absent
 The conferees adjourned late yes- terday after two stormy, unproduc- tive sessions House members blamed the absence of Senators from the meetings for delay in drafting a bill which they hope will be acceptable to both Houses.
 Senator members cracked back that representatives assigned to the conference don't seem to want to take any action"
 Discussions so far have centered on pricing amendment substituted by Barkley for the proposal of Sen. Robert A. Taft, (R.-Ohio). The Taft plan was singled out for cri- tlelsm by President Truman in his veto message on the earlier OPA extension bill.
 The Barkley substitute. now in the Senate bill, would allow 194O prices to producers and manufac- turers plus increased costs if OPA ruled they would increase produc- tion. Taft has modified his amend ment to tally with Barkley's except for the requirement that such price rises be allowed ony if they would lead to increased production.
 Want Measure Acceptable
 House conferees reportedly favor knocking out the production clause to make the pricing amendment &C., ceptable to Taft They then would expect his support for restoration of price controls on meat, dairy prod- ucts, poultry, grain and other con- modltles that would be exempted from price ceilings under the pres- ent Senate bill,
 The Senate measure would revive OPA for one year with no price controls on many food items, to- bacco and petroleum products. The House voted to extend OPA un- changed until July 20. The con- ferees must work out a compromise program acceptable to both the Sen- ate and House as well as MT. Tru- man.
 Taft said if the production clause were knocked out of the Barkley amendment motion undoubtedly would be made to restore controls on the Senate-eXempted commodities. He promised he would fight restore ation of price ceilings on the ex- empted items.
 Administration stalWarts in the conference are expected to wage 8 bitter fight to forestall any tam- pering with the Barkley plan.
 Want to Avoid Veto
 One conferee said any change would prompt another veto-a thing which the conferees say they want to avoid. :...
 Meanwhile, OPA officials predict ed that rents will hit a sharp up- ward trend on Aug. l unless rent controls are revived. They based their forecast on the fact that most states require 30-day notice prior to rent jumps or evictions.
 Certainly lot of landlords gave such notices the first week in July after the price law died" one OPA rent official said.
 The Senate bill provides that rent increases occurring since the former OPA law expired June 30 would be rolled back to their for mer levels. Landlords, however, would not be required to repay any higher rents they collected. The Federal government would not in- terfere with rents in states which he-e their own rent-control laws.