Evening star., 1947-12-11
By Joseph A. Fox

Flatly rejecting Republican
counterproposals for dealing
with the Nations economic sit
uation, President Truman said
today he will send specific wage
and price control legislation to
Congress within the next few
days.
The President told news confer
ence that nothing less than the
10-point anti-inf1ation program he
gave Congress three weeks ago
would be adequate to curb the
rising cost of living. He declared
that his own plan is what he wants
and that he wants it carried out to
the letter.
Mr.. Truman said the legislation
he will send Congress will cover the
wage and price controls which he
has requested as we'll as all of the
other points in the program he out
lined on November II.
Will Enforce Anti-Tru Laws.
Sharply criticizing one point of
the COPS proposed four point
anti-inf1ation program, the Presi-
dent said the Nations antitrust
laws will be enforced to the limit
as hong as he is President.
He made this comment on a point
In the Republican plan which, would
allow some relaxation of the anti
trust laws to permit industries and
business to pool resources and in
formation.
Asked If he Is also opposed to any
relaxation of the antitrust laws to
meet the New England oil shert-
age, Mr.. Truman repeated that as
long as he is President there will
be no relaxation of the antitrust
laws If he can help it.
Reminded of Statement.
Reminded that he had said at
a previous news conference that
the OPA was in the form of
police State method. the President
said the police State method arises
only under relationships.
If Congress directs price-and-
wage controls In free government
by free legislative action, he said,
that Is the free government ap-
proach.
The Republican plan appeared
headed for quick congressional ap-
proval with Democratic members of
Congress indicating willingness to
allow Republicans to pass their pro-
gram and take the blame if it fails.
They contend that the COP plan to
curb imitation by voluntary" means
will flop.
The House Banking Committee
was called together today to con-
slider the Republican legislation
which is built around a plan to let
business make agreements to hold
down rising living costs without
incurring prosecution under the
antitrust laws.
House Debate Monday.
The bill was introduced yesterday
by Chairman Wolcott of the Bank
ing Committee. It has been docketed
for House debate Monday.
Besides asking standby authority
to impose wage-price and rationing
controls, Mr.. Truman's 10-point pro-
posals also included requests for:
Curbs. on installment buying and
bank credits, continuation of ex-
port controls beyond next Febru-
ary 20, and power to regulate trad
ing on commodity exchanges to
eliminate speculation.
Since the President sent his eco
nonic message to Congress Novem-
ber II, the only administration
legislative proposal has been that
presented to Congress Monday by
Secretary of Commerce Hartman,
and it went no further than to pro-
vide for rationing and ALLEGATION of
scarce items. A reporter, recalling
this, asked If the administration
planned anything further. Mr.. Tru-
man answer that it did, positively.
The President would not go into
any details as to how far his price
rationing proposal would 60, other
than to say whatever needs to be
covered on account of the cost Of
living will be included.
Insists on Entire Plan.
Mr.. Truman said that everything
In the November message even
tually would be covered by legis-
lative proposals. Asked then what
he thought about the Republican
plan, the President insisted that
his own plan was what he wanted
and that he wanted 1t carried out
to the letter. Anything short Of
those proposals will not do, he de-
clared.
The Republican program goes
along with the Administration to
1See ECONOMIC page A-61