Evening star., 1946-07-23
BY J. A. O'Leory

the compromise price-control
bill back to conference for fur
ther revision was developing in
the House today as that body
took up the conference report.
Representative Lea, Democrat, Of
California said he expected to move
to send the measure back to the
conferees with instructions to the
House members to insist on striking
out everything except rent control.
1t was possible that some Re-
publican might exercise the min.
ority's preferential right to offer
a recommittal motion, but no one
on that side had definitely an
nounced such a plan.
Although cloakroom gossip this
morning indicated many House
members are not satisfied with the
latest compromise, leaders were
hopeful they could get it through
without further change.
Orders Text Read.
Speedy action was prevented.
however when Representative VOL
colt, Republican, of Michigan in
sisted on the clerk reading the 16-
page text of the bill. pointing out
that House members had no oppor-
tunity TO see it in its present form
until today. The conferees did not
get it in final shape until yesterday.
AS it now stands, the bill brings
nDA hoo1y
l947, but shorn of much of its former
authority, If revived in present
form, OPA would function under
the eyes of three-member decon-
troll board, with Secretary of Agri-
culture Anderson holding the whip
hand over control of agricultural
products.
The decontrol board would de-
eide on August 20 whether to restore
price ceilings on most of the spe-
cific food items the Senate voted
to leave uncontrolled
Asks Three hour Debate.
When the report was called up
shortly before noon, Mr.. Wolcott
suggested that the leadership allow
three hours of debate instead of the
one hour ordinarily allotted a con-
ference report, in view of the short
time members have had to read the
agreement. When protests came
from the Democratic side against
extending the debate that long, Mr..
Wolcott countered by insisting that
the full text of the bill be read.
AS the House prepared to act first
on the new compromise, Chairman
Spence of the Banking Committee
commented. 1--WE hope to have price
control again by midnight" How
ever, while the House vote is ex-
pected today, under Senate rules,
the debate in that body could drag
on until tomorrow if the bitter-end
foes of OPA should decide to air
their views again.
Truman Approval Seen.
Two developments late yesterday
strengthened the feeling on Capitol
Hill that Mr.. Truman will not veto
this measure:
Price Administrator Paul Porter
told reporters he has informed the
President the new compromise is
better than the bill Mr.. Truman
vetoed on June so.
The White House made public
statement from the Commerce De-
partment showing that there was
Is per cent increase in the index
of daily spot market prices of 2S
basic commodities during the first
16 days of no price control This
report. some observers felt. would
give Mr.. Truman Justification for
signing this bill, even though it still
may not be as strong as he would
like.
The new bill extends OPA for
year, but under rules requiring
higher prices for many manufac-
tured items. 1t also leaves meat,
poultry, milk, eggs, cheese, grains
and other basic foods uncontrolled
until August 20, to give the proposed
new three-member board time to
decide whether these commodities
should go back under price ceilings.
The OPA could restore price CELL
ings Immediately on manufactured
goods and on foods not specifically
exempt for the time being.
Authority to control residential
rents outside of Washington would
be restored intact, and OPA could