Evening star., 1947-12-07
o1:o Al1 Some Shadovs of Coming Events
LOOh11S 1AlNdu Are Noted Here and abroad

(By the World Staff {
Don't be surprised if Congress early next
year enacts a modified price-control BILL De-
spite their avowed opposition to Government
controls in time of peace, Republican leaders
are beginning to believe that some form OF
curbs on mounting living costs is essential if
the party hopes to win the White House and
retain control of Congress in 1948. 1--WE are
definitely over barrel politically" one high
ranking House Republican says privately.
"While we can rightfully attribute much Of
the increase to the administrators economic
policies and to heavy buying for foreign re-
lief, the people are beginning to want some
thing besides blame placing" He declares he
is convinced that if prices continue to rise
in 1948 President Truman and Democratic
candidates for Congress can capitalize on the
fact that the President warned about 1t and
asked for price and wage controls.
There has been no definite agreement on
a plan of action but some influential Repub
licans are talking about limited controls on
essential commodities, perhaps a check on
further wage increases and sharp reductions
in foreign spending. Appropriations for any
long-range foreign aid program may be pared
deeply on the theory that this will relieve the
strain on domestic supplies. William C. Bull
lit, former Ambassador to Moscow, Is the
man behind the gun in the Republicans move
to put $60,O00,0OO for China in the stopgap
relief bill. He has been telling Republicans
who will lsten-and some important ones
have-that Chang Kai-sheks army must have
uniforms, blankets and more ammunition or
take beating from the Communists. Repub-
licans say there will be supplies but no cash,
for Chang if the fund goes through.
Tar Gybbers
pickup Is coming in the number and
speed of criminal prosecutions for income tax
evasion The Treasury is tripling the num-
ber of cases it is turning over to the Justice
Department for action-Well over 100 week.
1t also is stepping up its checks on evasions.
A new trick is "sampng" which goes like this
Investigators go into a town with-say-1,50O
doctors, or lawyers or whatever. They pick
the names of five at random from the phone
book and ine-tooth their returns. If the
sampling hits pay dirt, the investigators 60
after the entire $500.
People
MANILA.-Dr. Jose P. Laurel, puppet presi-
dent under the Japanese. Is expected to as
sumo an increasing role in Philippine politics
as the strong man" opposing President Manuel
A. Roxas
LoNDON-Dipomatic informants say Earl
Mountbatten, Governor General Of India, may
succeed Lord Inverchapel as British Anabassa-
dor to Washington early next year. They
say the recently remarked Inverchapel has ex-
pressed desire to retire.
CARACAS.-Romulo Gallegos, Venezuela's
foremost novelist, looks like the winner in the
December 10 presidential election.
Flying Notes
The airlines have decided on a concerted ef-
fort to get the Is per cent Federal transporta-
ton tax knocked off to offset recent fare in
creases caused by rising costs. :. squirt in
Jet fighter production has increased this years
prospective output of new military aircraft by
nearly 40 per cent above last years 1880.
Cargo revenue has climbed into second place
in American Airlines' operating income, push
ing mail pay into last position for the first
time.