Evening star., 1946-07-06
Nation Is Facinq
Another Week
Without 0PA
Drive Against Meat
Control May Decide
Fate of Measure
BY J. A. OLeory

ullIil MOIlUdy III LIle DdLJle over
revival of OPA, with little hope
of settling the issue in less than
another week.
In the Senate drive by OPA
opponents to leave meat uncon-
trolled may make or break the bill
Majority Leader Barkley is trying
to get through as a substitute for
the one President Truman vetoed
last Saturday.
Senator Wherry, Republican, Of
Nebraska struck the first blow at
the new bill late yesterday by offer
ing separate amendments to leave
meat and dairy products free from
controls even if OPA is revived for
another year
OPA Foes Confident.
Foes of OPA believe enough Demo-
Gratis will join the Republicans to
adopt one or both of these amend
ments, which the Senate wrote into
the earlier bill. only to have them
knocked out in conference with the
House. At the same time, there are
indications that if Majority Leader
Barkley can beat off the meat and
dairy decontrols, he can steer his
new bill through without change. :
Senator George of Georgia. who
Wlelds considerable influence on the
Democratic side, came out TODAY in
favor OF leaving meat uncontrolled,
predicting that it would go back into
the black market the minute con-
trolls are restored. An increased
volume of cattle and hogs has been
flowing into II of the chief market
ing centers since OPA expired.
Although Senator Barkley got rid
OF specific meat and dairy product
decontrols in conference on the last
bill, he may have more trouble doing
so again. At least one House con-
feree who opposed such exemptions
before has said he will not fight
them again, since Mr.. Truman
turned down the earlier bill.
Millikin Charges Smoke Screen
Although some administration
supporters outside of Congress are
showing no great enthusiasm for
the new bill, which differs in only
two respects from the vetoed bill.
Republicans believe this attitude is
designed to help save the bill from
more restrictions.
Senator Millikin. Republican, of
Colorado took this view of yester-
days announcement by Price Ad-
m1nlstrator Porter that his approval
OF Senator Barkley's new profit
formulas is not to be construed as
a blanket Endorsement of the entire
bill. Senator Millikin charged Mr..
Porter was laying down "a smoke
screen" in the hope he would get
this bill rather than a less satisfac-
tory one
BOwles ASsailS New Bill.
In Portland, Me. Chester Bowles
told the Associated Press he could
not see much difference between
the first compromise OPA bill ex-
tending price control and the second
measure now before Congress. Mr..
BoWles resigned effective July 10 as
stabilization director.
The new Barkley profit formulas
would:
l. Give manufacturers and pro-
ducers the average industry wide
1910 price level, plus increased cost
OF production, instead of the Taft
proposal to use October l to IS. 194l,
as the base period and figure unit
costs on articles produced.
2. Give wholesalers and retailers
the markups and discounts they had
the day OPA died. with due allow
ance for the current cost of acouisi-
ton, in place Of the Wherry amend
ment, which called for markups and
discounts as of last January.
Pricing Amendment Offered Again,
Both Senators Taft and Wherry
made 1t clear today the fight over
these profit yardsticks it not over.
Senator Taft will seek a vote next
week on a compromise draft of his
old amendment, in which he has
sought to meet part of the Presi-
dents objection by making July l to
10 of 1910 the base period for figur-
ing profits. Mr.. Truman argued
that the fall of l941 was high-price
period. Senator Wherry also las
offered again his original amend
ment for wholesale and retail pric-
ing, as it passed the Senate two
weeks ago.
| Senator Taft took the Senate floor
late yesterday to charge that Presi-
dent Truman was centering his ef-
forts to prevent imitation on price
fixing, while overlooking two other
causes of inf1ation-large public
| spending programs and wage boosts
without accompanying increased
productivity
After estimating that this Con-
gress will appropriate $4,000, 900 900.
against probable tax collections of
s35 900 ,O00 900, leaving a $4,000 00O,-
900 deficit, Senator Taft said it lis
only hypocrisy to denounce imitation
IN one breath and then encourage
every wage increase and spending
program"
When Senator Wherry introduced
his meat and dairy product decon-
troll amendments Yesterday, he in
vlted other Senators who agreed
with him to go to the clerks desk
and put their names on the amend
| mentS. Sixteen Senators already
had Joined in sponsoring the meat
amendment, and II on the dairy
products proposal.
Majority Leader Barkley inter-
rupted Senator Wherry's invitation
to protest, observing, "I do not be-
lieve the Senate ought to be con-
verted into Billy Sunday sawdust
trail in order that an amendment
may be sent to the desk, with an
invitation for mourners to come to
the mourner's bench and sign on the
dotted line"
Senator Wherry said it is not
unusual for a group to join in
sponsoring an amendment and cited
bill in 1914, on which practically
every Senator's name appeared.
The Nebraskan jokingly suggested
he would be glad to have the ma
jority leader join in sponsoring ths
decontrol amendment, but Senator
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