Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-11
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

~ "AANA1No - AVA w n SASs
The White House acknowl-
edged today that changes in the
Governments top Sterilization
personnel are in prospect and
indicated that announcement of
a new strike-settling wage-price
policy may be expected soon.
Charles G, Ross, White House
press secretary, gave newsmen the
first official confirmation that shifts
in~the sterilization high command
are contemplated by President Tru-
man, although he refused to elab-
crate on what they would be. Re-
ports that Price Administrator
Chester Bowles would be named to
head up wage and price stabiliza-
ton had been circulated the last
two days.
Mr.. Ross said the personnel
changes, along with the new wage
price policy and an announcement
on the steel strike, all "conceivably"
might come today. He said the
President would make the an
nouncements, which would all be
lin one package"
when and if a steel settlement
is announced Mr. Ross said, there
will be a full explanation of all the
mathematics entering into it"
Completion of Draft Indicated.
Previously, officials had indicated
the Government had completed the
drafting of the new wage-price
policy and had arrived at steel
price increase that may be the last
word in the way of a relief offer
to the strike-bound steel industry.
One official said the steel industry
had been advised over the week end
as to the amount of the increase
believed to be about SIS a ton.
Officials were confident Mr.. Bowles
would be named head of the Office
of Sterilization Administration, a
position now occupied by Judge Johr
c. Collet, who was expected to re-
turn to the Federal bench in Mis-
souri,. Mr.. Bowles would be given
by executive order the authority
over wages and prices now held by
Reconversion Director Snyder. OSA
currently is branch of Mr.. Sny-
der's office.
Paul A. Porter, chairman of the
Federal Communications Commits
sion, was said to be the White House
choice to succeed Mr.. Bowles al
OPA. Mr.. Porter, however, was de.
scribed as reluctant to give up the
more permanent FEC post to take
over the price hot spot. He is a for.
mer director of rent control at OPA
and later served as assistant to Sec.
rotary of the Treasury Vinson wher
the latter was sterilization director
1917 -Cent Figure Forecast.
Meanwhile, Van A. Bittner, assist.
ant to Philip Murray, president O.
the Clio United Steel Workers, tols
mass meeting of striking steel in
dustry employees in Baltimore tina
an 1872 -cents-an-hour wage increas,
is "as good as in your pockets.
That is the figure President Truman
proposed as a means of settling tn.
Nation wide dispute, and apparently
the strike will be ended on tina
basis.
Mr.. Bittner told about $500
strikers and their families that tn,
Walkout would end when the cor.
poratlons agree to an 181a-cent
wage increase and I can assure yo,
that anybody who thinks the stee
companies can get away with any
less doesn't know the USW."
He said the steel workers were
fighting for their union, for al
labor and for "the Government OF
the United States"
Despite the words of Steel Mag.
nate Fairless benjamin Fairless
president of United States SteeD ,
Mr.. Bittner continued, 81 can guar.
antee that the 1871 cent wage in.
crease is as good as in your pocket.
right now.
you may have to wait for a few
Gays, but a rest never hurt anybod,
and all of us want to be on thu
oattieneld when the last shot i;
fired" -
Early Settlement Seen.
One Federal official, discussins
the steel situation, said he believed
the United States Steel Corp. haf
received notice of the price increas,
last night. He said he thought i
was high enough to enable earl,
settlement of the 22-day-old strike
of 100000 steel workers which i,
paralyzing all manufacturing in.
dustry.
Officials Of United States Stee
were in the city but could not bt
reached for comment.
On MIR. Truman's plan for re.
shutting the top sterilization com.
mand, associates of Judge Cole
said ne was not averse to steppins
out to enable the President to solve
the long dispute between MIR. Bowie:
and Mr.. Snyder.
Friends of Mr.. Bowles said that
even If he does get full authority
over sterilization it should not be
construed as a victory for their side
since the basic decision already had
been made to ease prices so that
labors wage demands might be
satisfied and the big strikes set
tied. That was Mr.. Snyder's idea
one that was bitterly fought by the
price administrator.