Evening star., 1946-07-27
BY the Associoted Press

BY the Assoeoted Press
Ceiling prices of both new and
used automobiles are restored to
June 80 levels, OPA announced
today, although higher prices on
new automobiles will be issued
shortly.
Pending announcement Of new
price schedules, all transactions
must conform to the June 80 CELL
ings even in cases where the buyer
agreed during the interim, when
price controls were off, to pay in
excess of the ceiling and made a
down payment" the agency ruled
Ceilings of used cars were dropped
per cent as of July l, reduction
which became effective automat-
ically with the OPA revival act.
This was the regular semi i-annual
reduction to take account of depre-
ciation.
The forthcoming ceilings on new
cars-Which some officials said will
approximate an increase of 500 on
popular price models-are based on
requirement of the new law re-
storing dealers prewar profit
margins which OPA had reduced.
Porter Sees Initiation Curb.
Meanwhile, OPA Administrator
Paul Porter predicted the new price
law will prevent runaway inf1a-
ton" but warned that some prices
particularly of cbthing-are going
to climb.
While his reborn agency scrambled
to issue 80 to 40 new price increase
orders on top of yesterdays 143,
Mr.. Porter appealed in a broadcast
for consumer help in enforcing the
OPA act.
The law authorizes price increases
that neither you nor I would like
to see" he said. but it will pro-
vide real measure of protection for
millions of Americans who simply
have no reserves with which to ride
out an inf1ationary storm.
United Efforts Urged.
When prices and rents went on
/ vacation month ago, they gave US
a taste of what a serious imitation
might be like
We're more determined than ever
! to prevent imitation in the year
ahead.
g" If we work and fight to-
gether. all Of us businessmen
farmers, housewives and workers
I think there's a good chance the
history book will chalk up 1916
as the year in which imitation stuck
its tail between its legs and Started
to slink away"
Lacking control over raw cotton
and now required to pass along tc
the consumer any rise in costs oi
cotton or woolen material, price of.
ficlalS said privately that they for.
saw coSt-of living trouble.
| Garment increases therefore may
be among the early boosts author
lied under The new pricing standard;
set by Congress. Yesterdays anc
| todays actions, though they covered
literally thousands of consumer anc
industrial items, all were in tn,
works when OPA expired on Junt
80. The new increases still must b,
figured out.
Three Major Appointments.
! The White House was bein.
watched closely for three major ap
pointments-the members of tn,
price decontrol board which is en-
powered to give OPA orders to knocl
out controls or restore them on an,
product.
The boards first and biggest jol
is to decide whether ceilings shoult
go back August 2l on meat and dair,
products, grains. cotton seed ant
soy beans. 1t must also decide wheth
er poultry, eggs, petroleum and to
bacco and their products stay con
trol-free after that date. as the
will in the absence of board actor
! These developments kept the OPP
machinery humming:
Headquarters and district offic
statfs Strove to prepare new com
munity food price lists to replac
| those made obsolete by the new Law
A long list of ceiling free product
was being drawn up for industry
guidance, since the exemptions OF
livestock. milk, soybeans and cotton
seed apply also to products mad
| lin whole or in substantial part
from those items. OPA must decid
what is "a substantial part"
/ Enforcement Plans Intensified,
! Enforcement plans were intensi
fed. One official said, however, tha
the slash in OPA's appropriate
to $75000,000 had clouded previou
plans to double the compliance fore
of 5000 agents and aides.
The plans will be carried out j
Congress heeds President Truman
request that $26000,000 additions
be appropriated for the agency.
Asking the money yesterday. MI
Truman said that even with thes
additional funds OPA would hav
only enough money to operate unit
February, when more money can b
. provided by the new Congress. TIL
S75 ,000, 900 appropriation represent
, ed reduction of $67 100000 fror
, budget estimates.
Administrator Porter yesterda
served notice that OPA will nc
rush to the rescue" of merchant
who bought goods at high price
during OPA-less days "in anticipa
. ton of unloading at still highe
prices"
About 40 per cent of all fooc
, remain under control, he feminde
!. grocers. and housewives, and ceiI
ings on most goods revert to the
; June 80 levels.
The flood of price increases an
, exemptions which kept coming unit
(See OPA, Page A-2.)