Evening star., 1946-08-27
Efforts Made 10 End
Differences on Level
OF Livestock CeiIinos

AiS e0AAiAAl15tA dkA0A
high command sought today to
reconcile differences between the
Agriculture Department and the Of
flee Of Price Administration on the
level of ceilings to be re-established
on meat animals Thursday.
The OPA has taken the position
that ceilings-which the price De-
control Board last week ordered re-
established-be set at the June 80
levels of SLABS per hundred pounds
for hogs and $18 for cattle, Chicago
basis, together with subsidies in ef-
feet at that time. Those were the
ceilings in effect when the old price
control law expired.
At the Agriculture Department.
aides told reporters Secretary Ander-
son believes ceilings on cattle and
hogs should be increased upward of
81 per 100 pounds to encourage
greater production.
Steelman Participates.
These aides said Reconversion Di-
rector Steelman was taking part in
a three-way telephone discussion
with Mr.. Anderson, who is vacation
ing at his home in Albuquerque,
N. Mex, and Price Administrator
Porter in an effort to get the issue
settled.
Confidence was expressed at the
Agriculture Department that an
agreement will be reached in time
for the ceilings to become effective
Thursday-the date set last week.
OPA officials said some honest
differences of opinion" have devel-
oped on some phases of the recon-
troll program. but they too, ex-
pressed confidence full agreement
would be reached before Thursday.
Threat to Resign Denied.
At both agencies the differences
were said to be those which nor
mally develop in discussions over
ceilings on agriculture commodities,
because of tendency of the OPA
to reflect the consumer viewpoint
and the Agriculture Department to
reflect the producers viewpoint.
Department officials said that
under the new price-control law, Mr..
Anderson has, in effect, authority to
determine the final ceilings. They
told reporters, however, that there
"is no truth whatsoever" to pub
lished reports that 1.-The Secretary
had threatened to resign If the OPA
did not accept his recommendations.
1ndustrys rush to get out from
under OPA ceilings gained momen-
tum meanwhile.
..- Inquiries Pour In.
John Bulkley, chief OF the new
decontrol division set up within
the price agency, told reporter he
has had nearly 1000 inquiries and
some 300 informal applications from
various manufacturing groups.
No formal petitions have been
filed as yet, however, for two rea-
sons:
/. OPA made public only last
week end the specific steps each
must take and the data
it must provide in order to comply
with the decontrol provisions Of the
new Price Control Act.
2. Two weeks notice must be
given industry advisory committees
before the actual petitions can be
filed.
OPA moved along on its own
decontrol front last night by ripping
all price lids from canned and frozen
condensed soups. The agency found
ample supplies indicated for these
ready-to-serve soups, broths, bouil-
lions, consommes and chowders,
both imported and domestic. Hence
under the new act removal of price
ceilings must follow.
In reverse direction, other OPA
officials hurried their effort to re-
ceilings on meat and fats
and oils made from cottonseed and
soybeans. These actions resulted
from the first decision OF the tnde-
pendent decontrol board.
Mr. Bulkley's division In OPA was
set up to handle preliminary appli-
They will be considered by
one or more of the agency's 700-odd
industry advisory committees.
OPA already has removed ceilings
from hundreds of items, both food
and non-food. Most fresh and frozen
fruits and vegetables as well as many
canned goods have been freed. A
long list of luxury or speciality foods
also are exempt.
Much heavy machinery and cer-
tain alloys and metals similarly have
hoop docopfro1oI