Evening star., 1946-07-25
Decision on 0PA
Expected From
Truman Today
Action to Be Revealed
At Press Conference;
Signature Predicted
By the A,soeiated Press

oy 1ns HSSOCIIIeo FTeSS
President Truman probably
will state whether he will sign
or veto the OPA revival bill at
a news conference at 4 pm. to-
day.
At the time of White House an
nouncement to this effect the bill
had not reached Mr.. Truman. Al
though passed by Congress. it still
had to go through the Speaker Of
the House and the President of the
Senate for their signatures.
1t was expected to get to the White
House soon after noon.
Will Send Message to Congress.
Presidential Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross told reporters that
the Presidents action on the legis-
lation, approved early today by the
Senate, will not be announced in
advance of the news conference
The decision, Mr.. Ross said, will
be accompanied by message to
Congress in explanation of his
action.
If the President signs the bill, Mr..
Ross said, he will name the three
member price decontrol board it
provides very promptly"
Mr.. Ross would not forecast the
Presidents action. although other
White House officials say privately
and House Majority Leader McCor-
mack has said publicly, that he will
sign the measure.
Many Controls Abandoned.
Except for rents, many of the
agency's wartime powers will be
curbed or removed under the ex-
tender bill which the Senate passed
a few minutes after midnight,
SO to 26
The House previously had ap-
proved the measure, 210 to 143.
When signed by Mr. Truman, the
bill automatically will re-establish
rent and many of the price ceilings
which lapsed July /. OPA's plans
are to follow quickly with number
Of temporary adjustments on prices,
pending calculation of new and
/ high ceilings required under the
: measure.
/ Extends Agency Through June. 1947.
! The bill gives OPA life through
/ next June. but it prohibits restora-
/ ton of price controls at least until
August 20 on such major market
basket items as meat and dairy
products, as we'll as on grains. petro-
leum and tobacco.
During the final long and some
times bitter debate Senators
Wherry, Republican, of Nebraska
and ODaniel, Democrat, of Texas
joined with others in demanding re-
Ijection of the compromise bill ap-
proved by House and Senate con-
ferees.
| On the other hand, Senator Taft,
Republican, of Ohio, who led the
fight against OPA as it existed un-
der the, old law, supported the cur
rent draft
Wherry Criticizes Taft.
The bills rough passage through
the Senate was highlighted Just be-
fore midnight when Senator
Wherry, the Republican whip, criti-
cized Senator Taft, Majority Leader
Barkley and other conferees for
what Senator Wherry contended
was their failure to insist on the
Senate amendments.
i seem to have gotten under the
Senator's hide" Senator Wherry OBJ
served to Senator Taft at one point.
Obviously aroused, Senator Taft
retorted:
My motives have been impugned!
Why shouldn't it get under my
hide?"
Barkley, Tobin Support Ohioan.
Coming to Senator Tafts support,
Senator Barkley and Senator Tobey,
Republican, of New Hampshire told
the chamber that the Ohioan had
stood by the Senates program for
still greater OPA curbs until it be-
came obvious that a deadlock had
been reached.
Senator Taft declared that any
change that the Senate conferees
have yielded to the President is ut
terly unWarranted."
But even as the words few across
=. the Senate chamber, indica tions
multiplied that Mr.. Truman will ap-
prove the legislation quickly.
Truman May Ask Additional Funds.
A member of the House Appro-
priations Committee gave a measure
, of support to this. He told a re-
porter privately that Mr.. Truman
will request, possibly in a message
today, an additional 100000 for
OPA.
Congress has voted the agency
! $75 100000 for the fiscal year 1886
Al. The House member said the
President will contend this is not
enough to run OPA until the new
Congress convenes in January.
Another indication that Mr.. Tru-
man is counting on restoring con-
J trolls came in the disclosure by high
officials that the President plans
to name Reconversion Director
John R. Steelman as stabilization
Director as we'll, succeeding Chester
Bowles. These officials noted that
! this appointment would make Mr..
Steelman the top policy man over
OPA
Even before the Senate began
more than II hours of debate on the
extender bill yesterday, OPA Chief
Paul Porter had his staff feverishly
at work on a stack of new pricing
, tSee OPA, Page A-6.)
: Shock of Phony HoIduD