Evening star., 1947-04-10
Truman Studies
Trust Act Easing
70 Halt Prices
Regards Increases
In Pay Justified if
Commodities Stuy Up
By Joseph A. Fox


today that the administration is
studying the possibility of re-
Iaxing antitrust law enforcement
to bring prices down. The Chief
Executive declared that unless
prices do come down wage in
creases will be justified.
In an extended discussion Of the
price-wage situation at news con-
ference this morning, Mr.. Truman
said there is Supreme Court de-
cision which stands in the way OF
concerted action to reduce prices
just as it does to increase them.
He said Attorney General Clark has
been instructed to study this rrling
and see what action could be taken
within its framework to halt the
price spiral.
The President also stressed In re-
Spouse to a question that if prices
do not come down he thinks wage
increases are justified. He described
Industrial income in 1946 and the
first quarter of 1947 as very great.
Responsibility Of Business.
Mr.. Truman told questioner
that he thought the responsibility
for bringing down prices to rea-
sonable basis rested with business.
He said several concerns had tele-
eraphed him they were cutting
prices, but he did not identify them.
He expressed himself as opposed
to q buyers strike to bring reform,
declaring that any strike, no matter
what kind, would throw monkey
wrench into the economic ma
chinery.
Mr.. Truman said the possibility of
using certain fiscal controls within
the Governments power had been
considered as a means OF lowering
prices, but he stressed no thought OF
trying to reinstitute price controls.
The President said he did not
think that it was feasible to attempt
to restore price control and that he
did not believe the people wanted it.
He repeated what he has said on
previous occasions that a free econ
on,y Is desired in this country.
Concerned Over Prices.
The news conference discussion
OF prices followed questions to the
President about his meeting yester-
day with the cabinet, the Council
of Economic Advisers, and other top
officials for discussion Of the price
situation.
After that conference it had been
said no conclusions were reached and
no action taken or contemplated.
Mr.. Truman said the meeting was
for the purpose of going over the
quarterly review of economic condi-
tions prepared by the council and
he repeated that he was concerned
over the price situation.
A reporter told him some business
people were afraid to cut prices
because of the competitive situation
and antitrust laws and wanted to-
know If the President thought 1t
possible for business to get together
with the Justice Department and
work toward reduced prices.
Mr.. Truman agreed he thought the
Justice Department would look on
that situation favorably, but pointed
to the Supreme Court decision which
he said is barrier to unified action
and explained the possibilities in
view Of that situation were being ex-
pIored.
Fiscal Controls Studied.
The President agreed with one
questioner who wanted to know If
the Governments sole weapon, prior
to the Justice Department study. was
simply moral suasion." Asked
what would happen if moral suasion
did not prove successful, the Presi-
dent said he wasn't ready to answer
that, but he did tell another ques-
toner that the use of fiscal con-
trols-not - identified-was being
studied.
One reporter told the President
the economic report to Congress in
January had been virtually ignored
and wanted to know If the President