Evening star., 1946-07-03
7 0PA Stopgap
bills in Hands
of Senate Group
O'DunieI Abundons
Efforts to Delay
New Legislation
BY the Associated Press

by me H"Scciofed PreSS
Two measures to revive price
controls reached the Senate
Banking Committee for consid-
GRAFTON today after Senator
O'Daniel, Democrat, of Texas
abandoned the blocking tactics
that had stalled them for three
days.
Senator ODaniel gave up after
making a jocular motion to refer
the bills to the committee on pen
SionS.
He said that seemed the logical
place for them, as IS 900 former
employees of OPA now have nothing
to do.
Majority Leader Barkley suggest
ed Senator O'Daniel's motion was
out of order. and Senator Maybank.
Democrat, of South Carolina, acting
president pro tempore, upheld Sen
ator Barkley.
Bills Are Identical.
The two bills-one already pass
ed by the House, the other intro
duced in the Senate by Banking
Committee Chairman Wagner-are
identical.
Each would grant OPA a tempo
rary extension of life. until July 90
to give Congress time to work out
permanent legislation if possible.
There appeared, meanwhile, sew
eral signs that the coalition which
nodded the presidentially-vetoed
OPA extender might be falling
apart.
Senator O'Daniel told the Senate:
Tomorrow is the Fourth of July,
and I believe the people of this
Nation have something to celebrate
-OPA is dead
There is movement on foot
to resurrect OPA. Inasmuch as we
are getting along fine in the United
States of America without OPA or
price control, and the 5000 peo-
pie who used to work for OPA have
nothing to do. I make a motion
that this resolution be referred to
the committee on pensions"
Meat Institute Reports.
Senator Wherry, Republican, of
Nebraska, read to the Senate re-
ports from the American Meat IN
stltute which he said should help
the country get over the fear
psychology" that I'VE can't get
along without price controls
The institute reported Moderate
ly heavy" receipts at principal live
stock markets. 1t said that if con-
tlnued the result would be more
meat for consumers at fair, open
and competitive market prices. :"
Senator Wherry declared these
prices were no higher than the
black market" prices he said were
prevalent under OPA.
Senator Murdock, Democrat. of
Utah said that as member of the
Banking Committee he has received
concrete indications that some Dem
ocrats who joined in whiting down
OPA have had change of heart.
II think the President has solidi-
fed his party behind his position on
the price-control question as it never
was solidified before" Senator Muir
dock told reporter.
Republicans Stand Firm.
He added that the 283 -to-61 House
vote Monday for 20-day stop-gap
controls, with Representative Roe
of Maryland as the sole Democrat
opposing, indicated a trend that may
provide good news for OPA in the
Senate.
Republicans declared, however
they will not agree to restore price
controls without sharp restrictions
in OPA authority.
Chairman Taft of the Minority
Steering Committee said he person
ally is willing to compromise some
Of the provisions of an extension
measure. But he added that many
of mis- colleagues want to re-enact
without material change the bill Mr.
Truman vetoed.
There Is some Republican senti-
ment, too, to let OPA lie dormant
until the full effects of the agency's
death can be assessed
Senator Moore, Republican, OF
Oklahoma put this sentiment into
words on radio address last night
IN which he said he had heard OF
nothing in the first two days with
out price control to indicate ma
tlonal collapse or uncontrolled in
flation.
Calling on the Nation to wait un-
til it can learn whether prices viii.
{See CONGRESS, Page A-4)