The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-07-01
Governor Maps Action On Prices
 Meets Officials
 To Get Controls
 In Operation

f1dTUlOIO, July I'VE i-1oF' Ae' E. Baldwin met" with state officials today to plan rent erld price con- .rol program" after serving notice that he will call a special session of the legislature If the rent situa- ton becomes acute through the un- conscionable action of landlords and congress fails to take further action"
 In a special statement, the gov- ernor said, there is a dire short age of housing and the need cannot immediately be met. While there is no state law at present making it possible to fix rent ceilings, l believe that the governor can, under the war powers act, take action to sus- pend the laws relating to summary process and evictions.
 If the situation become acute shall have no hesitancy in suspend ing these laws and in calling a special session of the General As sembly to enact emergency leglsla- ton.
 Meanwhile, call upon all land lords not to take advantage of the dire housing situation by exacting unreasonable rents. We have many returned veterans looking for homes. They must have just and fair consideration. And there are many others who have done their all for victory. We fought this war together as a united people. We must settle the problems that the war has brought in that same spir- it."
 Lieut. Gov. Wilbert Snow pointed out that Connecticut did not have the foresight of New York State, whose legislature last winter put upon the statutes a rent control law to take effect whenever OPA con- trols were relinquished
 Some state governors seem to have war powers which permit them to issue edicts freezing rents" Snow added. Our governors war pow CTS permit him only to suspend laws already on the statute books. if such suspension will help the war ef- fort"
 The effect of the death of OP.A already was being felt in Connecti- cut The Connecticut Milk Pro- ducers' Association announced that the price of milk it sells to dealers went up two cents a quart this morning.
 General manager Ken E. Geyer said the increase will just compen- sate dairy farmers for the loss of government subsidy payments which ended with the expiration of the price control and stabiliza ton acts
 Farmers have just been hanging on" said Geyer. Feed is almost impossible to get and, even under price ceilings, the cost has been go- ing up all the time. Our exective committee felt it had no alterna- tive. One more blow would be more than the average dairy farmer can stand now"
 His agency may be dead but State OPA Director Stanley Crute is waiting for the final rites. Mean While he asked his 250 employees and volunteer board members Ito stay with us."
 Crute pleaded with businessmen, consumers and landlords to hold the price and rent line voluntarily dur ing the next few days which are bound to be pretty confusing for everybody. ...
 Reports have come in" added Crute, that some real estate oper- ators have already served notice on the tenants of sizeable increases in rents, in spite of recommendations from several real estate boards and associations that landlords be mod crate in any rent increase at this time"
 State Food Administrator Henry B. Mosle predicted immediate roses in prices of food, especially meat, that would tend to be excessive at first but would settle down later He claimed that more food will be accessible in regular channels. J
 President Alfred c. Fuller of the Manufacturing Association of Con- necticut said that he didn't believe the death of OPA will result in runaway prices.
 Some prices will ge way up" he granted, because in some cases there will be the terrific pressure of costs" But he claimed that without "hampering regulations" production would increase and prices would not become unreasonably high.
 First positive consumer reaction was reported at Stamford where la bor leaders called a mass meeting S <l ..x. 4 Ll-..