Evening star., 1947-12-21
Truman 'sAides
Speed Work on
Industry Pacts
Steel Firms to Be First
Asked to AIIot Scarce
Goods Voluntarily
By ChoImers "A. Roberts


The administration already is
at work on plans to obtain the
voluntary agreements among
business and industry called for
in the Republican limitation
bill and preliminary meetings
with business leaders may be
held this week, The Star learned
last night.
Agreements to channel scarce
products into most essential uses
are expected to be worked out
shortly after the first of the year,
with the steel industry in the van
Of the key businesses to be called
here by Secretary of Commerce
Hartman to get together on the
program.
President Truman is expected to
sign the Republican sponsored bill
because, as one high administra-
tive official put it, ITS got some
things in it we want" He referred
to the extension of export and
transportation controls and the
power to limit grain used by dis
tillers.
The measure probably will be
signed late this week, this official
indicated. At that time, the Presi-
dent will issue statement that the
COP anti-inf1ation measure, passed
in the last days of the special ses-
sion of Congress, lacks the teeth
necessary to beat down the high
cost of living.
Will Suspend Anti Trust Laws.
The chief Republican feature OF
the bill, sponsored by Senator Taft,
Republican, of Ohio, is the provi-
sion allowing voluntary agreements
between various business concerns
to parcel out scarce commodities
which basically affect the cost of
living or industrial production"
The President must approve the
agreement before they can take
effect.
Those businessmen who do sign
agreements are then relieved from
prosecution under the antitrust
laws
The President had asked for the
power to allocate these scarce ma
terials as was done during the
war but the Republican-controlled
Congress said it must be done only
on voluntary basis.
Martin Predicts Further Action.
The attitude of the adninistra-
tion, according to the administra-
ton official, is that every effort will
be made to reach such agreements.
If businessmen balk or cannot agree,
then Mr.. Truman will ask Congress
next year once more for mandatory
authority.
AS members of both Senate and
House hurried home for Christmas.
their leaders left behind a wake Of
statements on the high cost of liv-
ing problem.
House Speaker Martin said the
"stopgap" program which did pass
Congress was just the start of a de-
termined Republican program to
drive down prices and that there
are other steps to be taken" He
did not list them, however.
With Martin talking that way"
an administration official said last
night, we've got to take what they
gave us and do everything we can
with it."
Taft Blames Administration.
Senator Taft, an announced can
didate for the Republican presiden-
tial nomination, said that by signing
the bill the President will get the
power ito check nearly all the
principal causes of imitation, If he
really wishes to do So"
The Senator issued a statement
blaming the current situation on the
administration and saying he saw
mo need at the present time Of
restoring police state methods of
price control
He was careful to point out to
reporters that he was issuing the
statement as an individual rather
than as chairman of the Senate
Republican Policy Committee. Sen
ator Taft was rebuked by fellow
Senators last month for denouncing
President Truman's 10-point pro-
gram in way in which he appeared
to be speaking for the Republican
Party rather than as an individual.
Taft Hits Luckman "Fiasco."
The Ohioan listed four ways by
which. he said the President could
check imitation by reducing the
spending which drives prices up"
They were cut Government expenses,
educate the people to spending less
and saving more" limit exports,
which he called the greatest cause"
of rising prices, and restrain the
creation of inflationary bank credit.
Senator Taft said the campaign to
get people to spend less and save
(See ECONOMIC Page A-71