Evening star., 1947-11-20
COP. to Insist Trumun
Write Bill on Controls
Cabinet Members to Be Ouizzed on
Details of 1O.Point Program
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

DV OONu LIVCOtu
Republicans Of the House and Senate are
planning to force President Truman and his
advisers to write bill of particulars for the
price and imitation 1o-point program which
Mr.. Truman dropped on them at the opening
OF the special session of Congress. Further.
they will contend that, If the administration
leaves the program up in the air with no legis-
lative proposals In bill form, 1t is obviously
"phoney," intended merely to make political
capital for the Democrats next year.
One Of the first moves will be to bring be-
fore the Republican-controlled congressional
committees members of the Presidents cabinet
and other high officials to describe in detail
how each item Of the 10-point program will
operate. The Republicans say they will insist
on knowing just what short supply" materials
and goods the President Is considering for
price controls-and what labor unions and
other groups of workers may have wage CELL
ings imposed.
Feeling of Irritation.
The feeling among the Republicans on Capt.
tol Hill is that the President gave ear to his po-
litical advisers when he wrote his recon-
mendations regarding prices and initiation
and ignored sounder advice. Many Of the Re-
publicans, as they put 1t, are wondering wheth-
er they, too should be politicians or statesmen.
In their present frame of mind they are in
clined to give the President all the controls
he asks, including rationing and price and
wage controls, fully believing that if he ever
imposed any ceilings prices and wages he
would be found eliminating them before the
election next year-just as he removed all con-
trolls before the 1916 congressional election
All of this irritation on the part of the
Republicans, however, does not relieve them
of the necessity of doing something about
prices-if anything can be done. They know
that the country will look to the Congress for
relief particularly in view of the step now taken
by the President. They are ready, as matter
of fact, now to 60 along with most Of the
10 points enumerated by Mr.. Truman. It is a
fact. too, that the Republican Congress,
through its committees, has been studying the
question of prices-high prices-ever since
Congress adjourned last July. The Eastern"
subcommittee of the Joint Economic Commit
tee has already made report, recommending
the restoration Of credit controls, the regula-
ton of commodity exchanges $50 far as specu-
lation is concerned, the ALLEGATION of trans
portation facilities, rationing in certain cir
cun1stances, and several other steps. It did not.
however. propose return of price controls or
the establishment of wage ceilings, recon-
mended by the President. The subcommittee
and the Republicans generally are opposed to
these aforementioned controls.
Danger to Nation Seen.
But the Republicans recognize that If they
leave out Of their legislative remedies price
and wage controls, and prices next year still
remain high, they will then be harshly criti-
cised by Mr. Truman because they failed to
give him all the powers he demanded. They
believe he placed those recommendations In
his program for just such purpose knowing
that in all probability he would never have to
attempt to enforce them. So they want to
force the President to write a bill for price
and wage controls. Then they will decide what
to do with 1t, If anything.
Playing with price and wage controls in
time of peace would be dangerous thing for
the country. Once hung around the neck Of
American economy 1t would be difficult to
remove price control There never would be
= time when the proposed elimination Of the
system would not bring violent criticism from
large groups of the people. The whole system
Of American free enterprise might easily be
junked under such conditions. Certainly the
urge to produce would be hobbed. This coun-
try entered upon a practice Of huge deficit
spending 16 years ago. 1t took wartime taxes
the highest ever known-to bring about bal
anced budget after peace had come
Further, a piecemeal attempt to control
prices, as suggested by the President would
force total price control-and If wage control
was included, 1t would become total wage
control.