Evening star., 1946-04-17
BY the Associated Press

The House voted, I'll to 144, to-
day to limit OPA's new lease or
life to nine months, instead of tt
the full year requested by Presi-
dent Truman. The vote is sub
ject to a formal roll call.
Republicans, with the help of 9
few Democrats, took control-tem-
porarily at least-of the price con-
troll legislation on the House floor
The motion to limit OPA's new life
span was offered by Representative
Wolcott. Republican, of Michigan
and approved by teller vote.
Earlier the House refused to Kill
OPA on June 30, defeating by 178-
to-34 teller vote a motion by Repre-
sentative Rankin, Democrat, of Mis-
sissippi to strike out the enactine
clause of the OPA extension bill.
Navy Amendments Pending.
Mr.. Rankin shouted to the House
"if you want to destroy the conf
dence of the American people ir
their Government, just continue this
Communistic OPA."
Scores Of other amendments pro-
posing far-reaching revisions OF OPA
still are pending.
On the vote on Mr.. Rankin's mo-
ton, reporters counted only 80 Re-
publicans and Democrats for it.
This House then proceeded toward
action on various proposals fol
amendments of the OPA law.
Before the voting began Repre-.
sentative Monroney. Democrat, o.
Oklahoma, commented to newsmen
Nobody knows whether there viii
be any price control at all wher
the voting is over"
Porter Issues Warning.
Meanwhile, Price Administrator
Porter told the Senate Banking
Committee that breakdown of the
present price control system car
panic the Nations consumers into
a Stampede" of costly spending.
The breakdown danger, he said
"is a real and frightening posi-.
bility."
There already is a rapidly spread.
ing belief among businessmen
he asserted, that Congress will
either scuttle price control COM
pletely or take action which will.
compel OPA to raise prices drasti-
cally."
Should that belief spread to the
consuming public, he added, "the
stampede will be on
Possible Effect of Boom.
The OPA chief told the Senators
that IF this country, with 1925 ,000,-
100000 bulging in its pockets, goes
on an economic bender there won't
be just a comfortable little read.
justment in prices.
"A climb of 80, 40 or so per cent
above the present level for the first
year of the boom seems to me q
conservative forecast"
The most energetic drive in the
House was expected to come from a
bipartisan group determined to re-
move the $715,000,000 a year Federal
meat subsidy and decree a CORE
spending increase in prices to con-
sumers.
Moreover, there appeared to be
powerful backing in both parties fol
a proposal to strip OPA of all au-
thority to price agricultural products
and to lodge whatever remains OF
this power in the Secretary of Agri-
culture.
Debate on Bill Ends.
Mr.. Porter recently sent a let
ter to Capitol Hill contending
that amendments written into the
OPA legislation by the House Bank.
ing Committee before the bill came
to the House floor would cost Ameri.
can consumers 100000 1000 in tht
next II months, including a 10 PEI
cent boost in clothing prices.
One of the amendments woule
repeal OPA's maximum averag,
price order under which the agenc,
requires a certain output of low,
cost clothing. Another would re-
peal that part of OPA's so-callee
(See OPA. Page A-4)