Evening star., 1946-10-17
Controls
Continued From First Page. J

to both green and roasted coffee at
all levels of distribution.
Supply Balances Demand.
OPA added it had agreed to the
action because data presented by
the industry and obtained by OPA"
indicated supply and demand were
approximately in balance"
This was the first agency action
on decontrol petition submitted by
any OPA industry advisory COM
mittee. OPA must act within Is
days of filing of a petition. An Off
cial pointed out that today's move
came within 10 days after filing.
The end of price control on coffee
involves no termination Of subsidy
payments as in the case of meat.
No subsidy payments have been
made on coffee since September. In
that month, OPA granted a price
increase averaging about S cents a
pound.
Retail prices are expected to re-
main at their present levels despite
removal of price ceilings, George v.
Robbins, president of the National
Coffee Association, said in New York.
Prices currently range from 80 to
SIS cents a pound.
In taking its separate action, the
Agriculture Department noted that
supplies of grain, including this
years bumper crops, now are suf-
hcient to permit unrestricted use in
fooJ o,d food Cov,%roIc ~, faadoro
and manufacturers were instituted
last spring to help meet overseas
needs and to obtain more equitable
distribution in this country.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics noted an advance in prices
Of nine out of % basic commodities
it studies daily to determine price
trends.
Developments following President
Truman's action in ending price
control on meat brought a blast
from the OPA Consumers Advisory
Committee, which said the presi-
Dental action was a body blow to
the American consumer" It urged
housewives to boycott" high-priced
meats and fight for retention OF
ceilings on rent and building mate
trials.
La Guardia Predicts Confusion.
UNRRA Director La Guardia
chimed in with the assertion that
Z the new policy will result in indus
trial confusion, financial dislocation,
social disturbance and political die
tatorship.".
i Relaxation of price and wage con-
trolls generally conforms with the
President's announcement of policy
in decontrolling meat. A high Gov
eminent official predicted that I'm a
lday or SO" the President would
clarify the status of the Wage Sta
bihzation Board. 4.
This is the tripartite panel of pub
lie, industry and labor members,
whose industry. representatives re-
Gently turned in their designations.
Some labor and business leaders
have called for its abolition.
i Quick Wage Action Due.
While forecasting a quick decision
on the board, officials said the stage
already is set for accelerated
scrapping of wage controls. Hence
they expressed doubt that the Presi-
dent will consider it necessary to
take any further action on this
: right away.
) He made his position clear on
that when he said in his radio talk
} monday night that the speedup
lot price decontrol will necessarily
hasten the removal of wage con-
trolls" said one official in close touch
with the White House discussions.
| The official told a reporter that
faster scrapping of wage curbs will
, be automatic" as price lids dror
off, since only industries under cell
ings are tied at present to pay con-
. trolls.
He added that OPA is really GO
ing to roll" In getting rid Of price