Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-09

OF 6. Sees
Price Stability
White House Indicates
Signing of z Bills With
New BIost at Congress
TRUMAN STILL IN DARK on To-
bin Acceptance of Labor Post.
Page AS
Chairman Taft of the Senate
Republican Policy Committee to-
day defended the actions OF his
party at the special session OF
Congress and stated his beller
that the country now is fairly
close to sterilization" of prices.
His comments came as the White
House remained silent on whether
President Truman would sign the
limited housing and anti-intiation
bills which Congress passed peIore
it quit Saturday. White House
sources indicated he vii sign ou'
will issue another blast at the he
publicans in doing so.
The Ohio Senator told press
conference at the Capitol that ne
sees nothing in the situation today
(which necessarily means" con-
tinuing rise in prices. He agreed
the approaching Sterilization OF
prices is of little help to the person
struggling to keep up with the price
spiral.
No Need for New Extra Session.
The Senator also said he did not
think 1t would be necessary TO TAKE
I'D anti-inflation legislation at the
opening of the Eighty-First Congress
in January. Nor did he think tnero
is much likelihood" of another
special session following the Novem-
Der election, as has been talked
about in some quarters.
He reiterated his intentions TO
offer new housing legislation at the
next session to deal with low-cos1
housing, slum clearance and per-
haps with farm housing, all elm
mated from the housing bill hnaliy
sent the President.
At the White House, Press Secre-
tarv Charles G. Ross told reporters
only that anyone can draw his own
inference on the President STRAIT
egy from his known attitude.
Housing Bill at White House.
The housing bill, less than tho
President asked of the special ses-
sion. has reached the President.
Mr., Ross said it will go through the
usual routine of submission to de-
partments concerned for their COM
ments. The anti-inflation bill, also
short of the Presidents demands
should reach him shortly.
Senator Taft said President Tru-
mans anti-inf1ation program was
"like tying down the safety valve
while YOU 20 on stocking the furnace.
It would only bring an explosion IN
the end" He said the Truman plan
would have revived OPA with its
as 900 employees costing the Govern
ment at least $150,000, 900 year.
The Senator was confident OF a
Dewey victory in November, al
though he admitted there Will be
stiff fights over five or six Senate
seats. He said he did not think the
Democrats could win control OF the
Senate
Backs Senate Rules Change.
He said President Truman knew
before he called for civil rights &C
ton that under Senate rules a
Southern Democratic flhbuster
could not be broken. Senator IaIt
repeated the Republican intention
of changing Senate rules SO tna1
filibusters can be halted.
In discussing the initiation price
situation, Senator Taft said:
1.-THE present situation, while
serious for millions, is not likely to
produce either an extreme lnnatlon
nor a depression"
Wholesale prices are now hlener
than they we're in 1920, but they
are only 2 per cent higher than they
were in January, 1913. Further
more. the weekly earnings OF factory
workers in 1920 were only $26.6l ana
thew now are S52.81 week.
Cites Truman on Rati0ning.
"There are many reasons to pc
lieye that we are reaching a staoii-
lied price level.
"Wheat and corn already have
dropped close to the support prices
and will probably be followed grad
ually by many other foods. Even IN
the price of meat, where prices are
most outrageously high, the Presl-
dent in his message to Congress IN
dicated that there was no need LOT
rationing. (.
"He said: ION the basis of pres
emit facts. and unless further short
ages occur, this authority Ito ration)
might not have to be used at an
The President now has every power
to prevent imitation, except price
control, and If price control Is ever
accepted In time of peace, 1t viii
mean the end of economic freedom
in the United States"
Many Lawmakers Hurry Home.
While Senator Taft was still In
washington, most other members OF
Congress hustled home to take the
l948 campaign back to the counK
courthouse squares.
Inevitably, there will be counter
blasts from the Republicans to
whatever criticism the President
(see CONGRESS Page A-4D