Evening star., 1946-06-20
|BowIes Attacks Bills
To CuraiI 0pA With
Hint Of Resignation
By james Y. Newton

day described restricting amend
ments in House and Senate price
control bills as infationary "booby
traps" limited broadly that he
would step out unless satisfactory
bill is passed, but refused to be
pinned down on the subject of his
resignation.
Mr.. Bowles, at a news conference
was asked if he would resign if
stabilization law he holds unac-
ceptable is passed. He parried the
question In this way:
II really can't comment on that.
President Roosevelt had many good
ideas. One was that he would not
comment on that type of question.
I won't either"
Discusses No-Strike Pledge.
The stabilization chief revealed
that he had discussed with CIO and
AFL leaders the possibility Of labor
giving what would amount to q
no-strike pledge in return for q
continuation of the present mod
erately tight price controls. He said
the discussions were still going on
and refused to say what reaction
the union leaders had made to the
proposal.
Mr.. Bowles was asked whether
there would be worse imitation with
no price control than under the
bills now being considered by a
yyo,,.a C,ooto Copfororro Commit -
tee. He replied:
That's a hard question to an
swer. 1t amounts to. DO I like
death by hanging or by having my
throat cut"
He said he still was very hope
full" that the Conference Commit
tee would produce what he consid-
cred an acceptable extension of
price controls, although he admitted
| that it would be difficult since bills
passed by both the House and Sem
ate had Objectionable features.
Mr.. Bowles said he had seen an
estimate that the cost of living
would arise from 20 to Is per cent
in the next year under the House
version of the extension bill. He
said that would include about a 10
per cent rise in rents which would
be forced by other rising costs.
After all, landlords have to eat,
/ too," the his comment when asked
about the effect on rents OF re-
laxed controls in other fields.
Predicts Further Trouble.
Mr.. BowleS said there will be no
wage stabilization" If either version
| is adopted. If controls are relaxed
he predicted a continuation Of
strikes and labor troubles which
have beset the country since VI
day.
His discussions with AFL and GIG
leaders about the possibility Of
no-strike pledge apparently included
the probability that President Tru-
man would veto al Unacceptable"
bill and would request Congress to
continue present controls by reso-
luton. The administration would
use any pledge exacted from labor
to persuade Congress to continue
controls In the present form.
Mr.. Bowles said he would recon-
mend very emphatically and vigor-
ously" that President Truman veto
an Unacceptable" bill.
Mr.. Bowles said his greatest con-
Germ is that the public's confusion"
over the various proposed amend
ments will result in price control
act which may look innocent enough
] but which would inevitably blow
Iup in our faces two or three months
from now" 5@
He said an amendment which
would remove ceilings June 80 on
meat, dairy products, poultry and
eggs is 80 obviously disastrous" that
he is confident the conferees will
eliminate it.
|. Maintaining a tight ceiling on
talk, seven Senators and an equal
number of House members mean
while resumed their efforts to reach
an agreement Of terms of price con-
troll extension legislation.
Representative Spence, Democrat,
OF Kentucky, elected chairman Of
the conference at the first meeting
yesterday. told reporters only: Il
think we are making a little prog
ress."