Evening star., 1946-11-30
Resignation Of Portel
From 0pA Payes WAY
For Merger With CPA
Action on Consolidation
|. Of Liquidoting Agencies
Expected in Few Days
Picture ON Page A-3.J

Resignation of OPA Chief Pau
Porter left the way open today
for early merger of that agency
and the Civilian Production Ad-
ministration to carry on remain
ing controls and move gradually
toward liquidation.
Mr.. Porter's resignation was ac'
cepted late yesterday by Presiden
Truman. The price administrator
who succeeded Chester Bowles las
February, wrote to the Presiden
November Is, and his resignation il
effective next Wednesday. He PLAN
to rest until January /.
He ended runors that he nigh
remain in the Federal service, bu
started other reports that he viii
take a $35. .000-a-year position al
president of Broadcast Music, Inc
That organization is the radio
broadcasting industry's music Ii
censing cooperative. 1t is regarded
as rivalsof the American Society
Of Composers. Authors and Pub.
fishers.
Sugar Controls Challenged.
Meanwhile, besides facing tn.
prospect of consolidation with CPA
and possibly other emergency agen-
cies such as the Ofiice of Contract
Settlement and the Unemployment
and Retraining Administration, OPA
must wage a court fight next weei
to keep one Of its few rationine
powers.
Arguments will begin in Districi
Court here Wednesday on the legal.
ity Of sugar rationing controls. Ths
suit was brought by Maple Lea
Diaries, Inc, of Brooklyn.
Action on the reported merger
plan for OPA and CPA can be ex.
pected within q few days." Presi.
Dental Secretary Charles G. Ross
said last night. There was no indi.
cation that the administration ha6
decided on a head for the new
agency. Civilian Production Admin.
istrator Small has indicated HI
hopes to return to private busines!
soon.
Cites Personal Reasons"
Mr.. Porter wrote the President
that personal reasons make 1t i'm.
perative that I leave the Fedora
service"
He noted that planning for tn,
liquidation of the Office Of Pric,
Administration is well under wa.
and this agency's part Of that pro
gram Is now being put into effect" :"
He praised President Truman'
record in fighting for effective pro
lection of the Nation against post
war imitation"
Accepting the resignation an<
commencing Mr.. Porter's service
the President commented:
1--WE both had grave reservation.
as to the effectiveness Of the ex.
tension bill which I signed July 2!
last; but I am confident that his.
tory will vindicate the wisdom ol
the decision to carry on for a while
longer even with the inadequate
powers which the Congress gave.
Imitation Threat Seen.
"The danger of ruinous postwar
imitation is much lessened by the
efforts which you and your asso-
ciates have made in the critica,
months since price control was ex.
tended. Indeed there is no cause
for pessimism over the economic
outlook. for the future If manage
ment and labor will, under freedom
from direct governmental controls
demonstrate the kind of patriotic
concern for the common good which
has characterized your administra.
ton Of OPA."
The President added that he ap
preciated the reasons why Mr.. Porte
wished to return to private life, bu
that he hoped to call upon the for
mer OPA. chief from time to tim,
..for such specific assignments a
your private responsibilities will per
NIT you to accept"
Mr.. Porter, q Kentuckian, came tt
washington in 1882 and was a spe
cial counsel for the Department o
Agriculture until 1887. After fiv'
years as Washington counsel for thu
Columbia Broadcasting System, h,
served successfully with the OPA a
deputy price administrator, witt
the War Food Administration ant
ONCE of Economic Sterilization ane
as chairman of the Federal Com.
munications Commission. In 1874
he was director of publicity for ths