Evening star., 1947-12-09
Authority for Truman to Ration
Meat and Cas- Buy Wheat Crop
Sought in Administration Bill
Measure Provides
Priority System
On Scarce Items
BY the Associofsd Press

The administration today sub
mitted proposed legislation to
Congress which would permit
the rationing of meat, gasoline
and other commodities.
Undersecretary of Commerce Will
liam C. Foster told a Senate Judici-
ary Subcommittee that a bill handed
to the group by Secretary of Com
merce Hartman also would permit
the Government to buy up the en-
tire crop of wheat and certain other
commodities.
Mr.. Foster explained these ration
ing and crop-buying powers were
contained in bill designed to give
President Truman authority to allo-
cate and fix priorities on scarce
items, including livestock and poul-
try, steel, grain and grain products,
freight cars and other products and
materials.
Wide Powers In Bill
Moreover, the measure would give
Mr.. Truman authority to allocate
any other materials if he found
after public hearings that short
age was basically affecting indus
trial production or the cost of liv-
ing"
Senator Cooper, Republican, of
Kentucky asked Mr.. Foster whether
implicit power in such authority to
distribute scarce items was the pow
er to ration consumers.
HTt Un1l1I inc1I,Io ,>o,,,or 5,
Mr.. Foster replied.
When President Truman pre-
sented his 10-point anti-inflation
program to Congress he emphasized
and cabinet officers have since re-
peated lt-that the administration
does not propose to use any of the
powers if their use can be avoided.
The administration contention is
that it should have the power so
that it can be used if necessary to
halt runaway prices.
The measure presented to the
committee would extend export
controls, ALLEGATION and priorities
powers through March 81, 1850.
The draft of proposed legislation
apparently was submitted to meet
increasing complaints by Republi-
cans that the administration has
failed to be specific in outlining the
powers it wants. ..
Wherry 'Criticizes Administration.
Such criticism was levelled by
Senator Wherry, Republican, of
Nebraska, majority whip, who told a
reporter there has been no con-
structive or detailed anti-infation
legislation outlined by any of the
administration officials the Presi-
dent has sent up here"
Senator Wherry said this in ex-
pressing the doubt the GOP-con-
trolled Congress will act finally on
any anti-infation legislation during
the special session.
In making the statement, Senator
Wherry differed with Senator Taft Of
Ohio, chairman of the Senate Repub-
lican Policy Committee, and Chair
man Wolcott of the House Banking
Committee. Both have said they ex-
pect action before Christmas on a
few cost-of-living measures but not
on the controversial request for
standby wage and price controls
and rationing power.
Senator Taft yesterday told a
Town Hall audience in New York
that next springs expected meat
shortage might lead to rationing.
He said that certainly we should
ration other countries before we
ration ourselves"
Favors British System.
If this country is forced to adopt
a rationing system for meat, the
Senator said he advocated the
British system, under which each
persons purchases are limited by
money value rather than by ration
points as was the case under OPA.
Senator Taft said rationing
should not be brought back unless
absolutely necessary" He said he
favored limitation on exports and
increased productivity at home and
that the Republicans would support
an administration proposal for a
savings campaign to combat high
prices.