Evening star., 1946-06-30
Truman Asks Marion to Hold Line
With Voluntary Price Control;
All OPA Curbs End at Midniqht
Efforts to Pass
20-Doy Extension
May Take Week
By J. A. O'Leory

Inc price control act was LETT
to die at II o'clock tonight when
Congress adjourned for the week
end yesterday without passing
any substitute for the diluted
one-year extension President
Truman vetoed earlier in the
day.
In an atmosphere of recrimina-
ton between opponents and sup
porters of OPA as to whether the
President or Congress was RESPONSE
BILE for the killing, it may take a
week to drive through the House
and Senate a revival resolution.
Friends Of OPA will try to pass
quickly simple extension OF the
old law until July 20, to let COM
mittees work out a stronger bill
than the one the President vetoed.
In both Houses, however, this reso-
luton will be open to amendment,
and 1t is possible that by next Sat-
urday the President may have on
his desk another measure as objec-
tionable as the one he turned down
yesterday.
All Controls Off.
What happens throughout the
country this week, with all controls
off, is likely to have decisive in
fluence on the lawmakers. If prices
60 up rapidly the pressure will be
greater on Congress to revive the
law with teeth in it. If. on the
other hand, prices do not soar. the
effect will be to strengthen the
hands of those who are out to end
control.
Here are the high lights of hec-
tic day on Capitol Hill that began
in the morning with the unexpected
news that Mr. Truman had vetoed
the curtailed bill, against the ad-
vice of administration leaders OF
the House and Senate.
/. The House sustained the veto
within an hour. This killed the new
price control program without the
necessity Of Senate action. The vote
was 173 to override and 142 to sus-
tain-far short of the two-thirds
required to override.
2. Within five minutes, Chairman
Spence Of the House Banking Com
n1ittee sought unanimous consent
for immediate consideration OF q
stop-gap resolution to keep OPA
alive until July 20, but Representa-
tives Short, Republican, of Missouri,
and Wollcott, Republican, Of Michi-
gan, objected.
Rules Committee Called.
3. The House Rules Committee
then was called into session, and,
after more post-mortems as to who
caused the death of the vetoed bill.
granted special rule which would
have given the House a chance to
act yesterday on a temporary ex-
tension if two-thirds of the mem
bership could be mustered to sus-
pend the ordinary rules.
4. While the House Rules Com
mittee was still in session. however
word came that the Senate had
adjourned at 4:30 pm. until Mon
day. This meant that, no matter
what the House did, OPA was des-
tined to die at midnight Sunday.
5. Tomorrow the House will take
up the 20-day revival resolution
under rule which will make any
number of amendments in order and
in the Senate, Senator Wagner
Democrat of New York, will. renew
his effort, which failed yesterday, te
get immediate consideration of q
similar resolution there.
War Powers Act Signed.
There had been some speculation
at the Capitol that the Presiden,
might find among his war powers
some authority to breathe a spark OF
life into OPA tonight, but any hope
OF such a development faded last
night when Mr.. Truman signed q
bill extending the Second Wa,
Powers Act.
i For Senator Moore, Republican Of
Oklahoma, had written into tha-
Dill sweeping provision forbiddin,
j the President to use these wa,
powers. or any other law, for tn,
purpose OF controlling prices o.
rents.
}, incidentally, the effect of OPA',
death on rents throughout the coun.
J try will be watched with special in
terest by members of Congress, be.
cause rent control was one phase
OF the stabilization program thai
!, would not have been changed by
! the bill the President vetoed. Wash.
lngton, however, has its own sepa.
rate rent law, which was continued
(See OPA page A-31