Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-15

Party Program Seen
Popular with Democrats
Who Oppose CompuIsion
By David Laurence
Voluntary cooperation by the
people and their Government-voli-
ton rather than coercion-is the
theme Of the Republican anti-infla-
ton program as 1t will be passed by
Congress.
Il voluntary controls" should
prove Ineffective, compulsory con-
trolls will ensue.
The Republican theory is that the
Nation should have a chance to test
out voluntary controls. Since this
requires specific legislation, the
President would be empowered to
take the steps necessary to effectu-
ate the voluntary program.
Overall Authority Barred.
Even If voluntary controls should
not attain the desired goals, Con-
gress will not give the President
blanket overall authority to control
the Nations economic system but
will be agreeable to "selective" con-
trolls In specific industries.
This decision is OF momentous i'm
portance. 1t is popular not only
inside the Republican Party but in
side the Democratic Party. For it is
in keeping with American tradition
and experience. 1t is, moreover, much
more likely to bring the necessary
increases in production which are
the objective Of the whole program
anyway.
President Truman got mixed up
at press conference last week and
said as long as he was in the White
House the antitrust laws wouldn't
be suspended for any one. He clum-
silly withdrew his comment the next
day when he found out that this
would affect the very proposals
made by his own Secretary Of Com
merce.
Changes Seen Necessary.
Now 1t Is clear that some amend
n1ent Of the law is necessary. It is
clear also that the President Is not
to be given dictatorial powers over
industry and business, but is to be
asked to take the leadership in a
program Of voluntary cooperation
between business and Government.
This is bound to be effective, be-
cause, while the plan is voluntary,
1t will mean eventual compulsion If
any elements prove recalcitrant and
do not 60 along with fair programs
worked out by governmental officials
and industrial executives together in
particular industries.
Congress will accept the Repub-
lican plan because there isn't a
handful Of votes except among the
Socialists and "left-wingers" who
want Government control of the
whole economy. II complete con-
troll we're instituted, then the cleft
wingers" of the OPA and various
New Deal groups would be back in
the saddle. This could only result
In q stalemate in the whole econo-
mic system.
Whatever controls are adopted
must be made workable by indus
trial and business leaders them
selves. for they alone know what to
do about ALLEGATIONS 50 as to pre-
vent the controls from resulting in
. debacle that would defeat every
thing.
How Controls Would Work.
How do voluntary controls" work?
Each industry or group affected
Is called into conference by some
governmental department or agency
and is asked to work out plan for
increased production or for equit-
able distribution Of scare products
or for holding down prices to given
level. The goals will be different
with each product.
Before q group Of producers can
sit down to q conference with the
Government, there must be formal
stipulation that the very act of COM
peting companies in sitting down
together to allocate distribution or
Ak prices will not subsequently be
made the basis Of antitrust charges
against the members Of such an in
dustry.
Former Assurances Ignored.
Strange as 1t may seem, the rec
ord of the Department Of Justice
In ignoring informal assurances
given by other governmental agen-
cies heretofore in somewhat similar
emergencies has been a bad one.
The only sure way is to provide by
law that whenever a governmental
agency asks industrial groups to
work out plans for restriction Of
production or distribution or for
the fixing Of prices, such agree
ments shall not be subject to the
antitrust laws especially after the
Attorney General has given his
written approval. This will at least
prevent an Attorney General in
the future from ignoring what his
predecessor permitted.
On the political side; It's better
for the administration to go along
with the moderate program now
and, II the situation doesn't sta
Billie, there is always the oppor-
tunity to ask for more power and
to blame the Republicans for not
having granted the powers sooner.
From the Republican point of
view. which is really opposed to
price fixing because 1t leads to black
markets, there is the hope that
sterilization will come anyway in
the early part Of 1948-as 1t is be-
lieved that in most everything.
prices have reached their peak now
and the only direction they are
likely to go is downward.
tReproduetion Rights Reservsd)