Henderson daily dispatch., 1946-10-15
End OF Curbs On Meat Foreshadows
Early Death OF Other Price Controls
POrterActs
To Formally
End Ceilings


eminent lolmaliticS ending price
controls on meat went forward swift
ly today in the wake of President
Iruman's decision that deco n,rol is
the only remedy Tor the nation
wide shortage.
First 10 act were OPA Admin
iStratCr Paul Porter and Secretary
OF Agriculture Clinton Anderson
Porter drafted an order lifting
price controls from livestock. meat.
and other livestock products.
Anderson promptly approved ii.
\ iorma! proclamation ending tic
controls was 10 bc issued by Porter
later today.
Along with the passing of price
ceilings Oh meats. OPA said today
that slaughter controls a!sa expire
Immediately.
Arval EriHSon, director Of meat
enforcement for the pricing agency.
told Il reporter. that the entire
slaughter control program had been
ended by President Truman.
Under the program the agency
controls the number o! live animals
that could be converted into beef by
any packer or other slaughtcrer.
The Chief Executive - to the tune
of Democratic applause and criti-
ciSm, Republican tauntS and indus
try jubilation also Signaled an
earlier end to virtually the whole
series of war time restrictions, en-
cept those over rents.
Mr.. Truman said the removal of
ceilings en- items other than meat
will be Speeded up and this will has
ten the end of wage controls.
Sharply reversing his previous
stand, the President told the nation
real blame" for his action Lies at
the door of the reckless group OF
selfish men, who in the hope of
gaining political advantage. have ell
couragcd sellers to GAMBLE On the
destruction o! price control
Speaking in a nationwide broad
cast last night, three weeks before
congressional elections. NJ. Truman
said that OPA and the Agriculture
Department would formally scrap the
meat price lids today.
Their acton Was all that was re-
CURED To make the elimination OF
controls legally effective.
However. no great quantity of
meat is expected to begin appear
ing in butcher shops for perhaps 10
days - the time usually required
to get livestock from the farm TO
meat counters.
Mr.. Truman's dramatic decision.
climaXing Il mounting Juror over
mCatlCSS manuS. drew immediate
Republican cries Of death bed re-
rcntancc. confession Of failure"
and too late
In tho administration camp. the re-
action was generally favorable. but
Rep. dcLacy CD OF Washington in
dictated diSapprUval ny calling for
national buyers strike" to mold
down prices Of beef and other
items.
Rep. Monroncy I'D of Oklahoma
termed MIR. Truman's action body
blow at initiation controls.
The American Meat Institute
hailed the decision. but cautioned
that it will not mean much more
meat for consumers il the immCd-
4' u lNltlt.
Meat stocks. the institute said. arc
nj Il low level and distribution pipe
lines are completely empty.
In deciding 10 follow the advice
of many of his party leaders and
discard ceilings. Mr.. Truman in turn
denounced "a few men in Congress
who. in the service of selfish in
tercSts. have been determined for
sometime to wreck price controls
no matter what the cost might be
10 our people"
Recalling that he had vetoed the
original price control extension bii'
10 prevent "lCgalizcd run away
initiation" and that he had signed
the second bill with reluctance"
Mr.. Truman said:
II have tried honestly ard sin
ccrcly to administer this faablc law
From the outset. however. the very
forces responsible Tor the weaken
ing Of The law in Congress have de-
mandcd the lifting OF even the in
adequate controls which the controls
enacted"
.