Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-10-02
Two 0PA Aides Deny
Urging CUT in Ads
In Paper Shortage
By J. A. OIeon

Two OPA officials denied before {
House Interstate Commerce Sub.
committee today that they had evel
heard any one in the price-contro
agency suggest that the volume Of
advertising should be curtailed- ir
connection with the newsprini
shortage.
Representative Brown, Republican
of Ohio put the question to Fred
erick c. Holder of the industrial.
Price Division. and Robert F. Mel.
son Of the Paper Division as the
subcommittee began hearings to de.
termine how production of news
print can be stimulated.
Mr.. Brown said he had heard II
had been suggested in OPA that
there is too much advertising and
that it should be cut Is per cent.
Both witnesses replied they had
never made such a statement. MOI
had they heard any one else In the
agency make it. Mr.. Brown added
that he hoped it was not true be-
cause, in his opinion, it would have
been ian absolutely un-American
statement"
Outlook Not Promising.
Representative Wolverton, Repub-
lican, of New Jersey followed up by
asking If either off1cial had ever
heard it suggested in OPA that 40
per cent less newsprfnt from Can
ada would be satisfactory" Both
replied they had never heard that
suggested.
Although Mr.. Holder testified that
OPA has not yet decided on all OF
the nonagricultural products to be
freed from price control by Decem-
Der 81, he said the outlook for de-
control of newsprint in the next
three months is not promising.
Mr.. Brown told both officials the
new Price Control Act requires the
removal of ceilings from newsprint
by December 81, and advocated it as
a means of enabling American pub
fishers to buy paper which, he said,
now goes to other countries because
the world price is fro mss TO $l3 q
ton higher"
MI. Brown, himself a publisher,
told the witnesses that If newsprint
is not decontrolled as to price and
he Is in the next Congress he will
advocate further legislation on the
subject.
Under questioning by committee
members Mr.. Holder said OPA
would make its decision after con-
ferring with publishers and would
give serious consideration to any
recommendation of the House SUBJ
committee.
Edition on Wrapping Paper.
Another highlight of the hearing
came when Representative Wolver-
ton held aloft part of last Sunday S
edition Of the Philadelphia Record
which was printed on brown wrap
ping paper, and declared that when
metropolitan daily paper finds 1t
necessary to come out like this, y
there is situation which demands
immediate attention.
Chairman Boren brought out that
brown wrapping paper costs $95 q
ton as against SIS q ton for news
print, and suggested that If he were
a publisher he would rather be per-
mitted to buy newsprint at $95 q ton
than have to use wrapping paper at
that figure.
Mr.. Holder testified that until over
all supply and demand come more
nearly into balance, perhaps in the
early part of 1947," decontrol of the
entire pulp and paper industry
would In our judgment have ex-
tremely serious effects on the over
all economy"
Sporadic Shortages Feared.
AS to the possibility of removing
ceilings from newsprint only, Mr..
Holder said "decontrol by segments
of a fluid industry, such as the paper
industry, might have dangerous and