Evening star., 1946-04-29
'Use Of Veterans
To ToUncover0PA
Vio|ators Urged
Green of AFL Begs
Senators to Save Price
Control Agency

AAAeNi nSeo " 40 P1oPOOCO IOody NY
Senator Murdock, Democrat, Of
Utah as the American Fedora
ton of Labor urged the Senate
to reject House amendments to
price control laws.
Senator Murdock'S idea was
termed very good suggestion" by
William Green, AFL president, who
earlier had told the Senate Bank
ing Committee, a hearings on leg
lslatlon to continue price controls,
that some House-passed proposals
on OPA would amend price con-
troi to death"
After Mr.. Green had commented
that I'VE can't surrender to the
black market" Senator Murdock
made his suggestion, adding: L be-
lieve lot of veterans could do the
job"
Capehart Hits Corn Subsidy.
Senator Capehart, Republican, Of
Indiana accused the administration
OF indulging in "a 100 per cent
olack market" deal in its corn sub
Slug arrangement.
When the Government sought to
get corn for its famine-relief pro-
gram, it found it had to pay a 30
cents-a-bushel premium, he said.
When business men pay above
ceilings TO get commodities needed
to keep running, Senator Capehart
said, they are called black market
ers.
Now the Government is doing the
same thing he said.
Senator Taylor, Democrat, OF
Idaho objected. L don't believe you
can place profits and human lives
on the same level he said. He add
eG he didn't think it was TO the
credit of American farmers" that
they held corn until a premium
price was needed
Senator Capehart agreed with
Senator Taylor that profits and re-
lief of starvation are not on the
same level. He stressed his point,
however. that the Government was
doing what it bitterly criticized bus
lilCoo lIlC14 1Oi CJlllS.
Veteran Asks Price Control.
Chat Patterson. appearing for the
American Veterans Committee. gave
the committee a statement SAYING
that veterans have "a bigger stake
in preserving a strong price control
than any lobby in increasing its
profit"
What good are disability pen
sions, living allotments, liberal
loans, and other forms of financial
assistance if the veteran can't buy
anything with the money when he
gets its?" he asked.
TWenty-three national organiza-
tions, represented by Caroline F.
Ware OF the American Association
of University Women. joined in
asking the Senate Committee to
turn down all Of the House amend
ments which they felt would Grip
pie price control.
Mr.. Green called most dangerous
the requirement that OPA remove
price control from any item when
current production equals the 1940-
Al level. This like, other House
amendments, sounds plausible on
the surface. Mr.. Green said. He
pointed out, however. that since
those prewar years the population
has increased 100000, plus the &C
cumulated demand Of the war years.
Demand Much Greater Now.
so, where in preWar year the
housewife would have bought only
one unit of the same item, she will
have to buy two or four or six
units to make up the wartime def
icit," Mr.. Green said
Yet, many items already have
passed the ls40-4l production rate
and. therefore, would be free from
price control, although supply has
not reached current demand, Mr..
Green argued.
He warned that the ending of all
meat subsidies on June 80 would not
only raise prices. but also would
affect the relief of famine abroad bv
the use or grains for
cattle feeding.
He also attacked the House plan
to eliminate other food subsidies by
December 81. declaring:
The complicated mechanical pro-
cedure calling for a reduction in
subsidies every As days and for
simultaneous price increases is open
to wide abuse by spectators who
could arrange to obtain both the
and the price increase.
Under the plan there is no way to
prevent a scandalous windfall of
profit to SPECTATORS
Mr.. Green told the committee
that by extending price control for
one year without these Gripping
Congress would not
perpetuate Government regulation
indefinitely. He pleaded for more
gradual and orderly termination OF
controls
COP Wants Own Program.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans
apparently are committing them
selves to an open fight under the
direction of Senator Taft of Ohio
to force through a price control
program of their own.
1t is the first move of this nature
since the Republican legislators
adopted a general statement of pol
icy last December. And it came at
time when dissatisfaction in
Democratic ranks was demonstrated
by a plea from Representative Kill
day, Democrat. of Texas for his con-
gressional colleagues to meet and
adopt program of their own.
Asserting that there now is no
Democratic program except that
sponsored by certain individuals"
Mr.. Kilday criticized Secretary Of
Commerce Wallace in statement
for advocating that party members
be punished for not supporting ad-
ministration proposals.
Senator Taft's move to put the
minority Steering Committee and
COP members of the Banking Com
mittee on the line for a specific set
of OPA p1 oposals was looked on gen.
orally as serving notice that the Re-
publicans think the time has come
for an open challenge to administra-
tion control of the Senate.
That control has been tenuous
(See OPA. Page A-16D