Evening star., 1946-02-17

conservative officials said the rise in
general costs resulting from what
Mr.. Truman described as the
bulge" in the stabilization line
would not exceed per cent within
a year. Other sources placed the
potential living cost increase at 10
to IL per cent
Signs of Trouble on Steel.
Despite the good news that most
of the big basic steel companies had
settled their strikes, there were signs
of trouble in working out deals with
producers of Special alloy steel and
steel fabricators, companies that
specialize in shaping raw steel into
products.
The Allegheny Ludlum Steel
Corp, Pittsburgh, announced it
would meet with the CIO Tuesday,
but company spokesman expressed
considerable doubt" that a price
adjustment of sufficient size to en-
able 1t to grant the demanded wage
increase will materialize. The COM
pany specializes in more costly alloy
steelS.
Reports from many of the smaller
fabricating companies, type which
forms the great bulk of the 1000
plants closed by the steel strike,
indicated that resumption of oper-
ations may be delayed some time
because of the difficulty in working
out their price and wage problems.
The new wage-price policy will
force nearly all future wage in
creases before the Wage Stabiliza-
tion Board for it's review, since ap-
proval must be obtained if the
employer wants either immediate or
future price relief. WSB officials
indicated they could handle the
added work, expected to begin pour
ing in this week, but said their staff
would have to be expanded.
Effect Remains Confused.
The precise effect of the new
policy remained confused. Mr..
Bowles promised a clarifying state
ment on wages soon, and interpreta-
tions also may be expected from
both WSB and OPA.
Mr.. Bowles will appear before the
House Banking Committee tomor-
row on the administration >request
for extension of the Sterilization
Act for a year past the scheduled
June 80 expiration date.
Dot hi al, Il
agreement on wages for its $4,000
workers with the CIO in a brief
conference here yesterday after
noon. The contract, which Is to last
a year as in the case of United
States Steel, was signed by j. M.
Larkin, company vice president, and
Mr. Murray.
Shortly before Bethlehem signed,
Republic Steel, third ranking pro-
ducer, and Crucible announced
agreements as did the Aluminium
Co. of America. ALCOA agreed to
a 19-cent increase, which Mr.. Muir
ray explained was a bookkeeping
adjustment to avoid use of fractions
Timken Offers 1917 Cents.
The Timken Roller Bearing Co.
of Canton reported in letter to
Mr.. Murray that the firm would
grant an 1871 cent hourly pay in
crease to $4,000 striking Timken
steel workers and open negotiations
in an attempt to bring an early
settlement of the walkout.
Mr.. Murray previously suggested
that company agreement to the
hourly increase and resumption of
negotiation sessions with union
leaders would be most helpful in
halting the stoppage which began
January 81 in five Ohio commune
ties.
John D. Small, civilian produc-
ton administrator, outlined a pro-
cedure of producer-rationing of
steel until operations return to nor
NAL. He said the policy is de-
signed to provide for the minimum
needs of the greatest number of
steel users and for maintenance and
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