Milford chronicle., 1948-12-10
Tar,LabOT
Policies

JREo4DENI TRUMAN and hia
4 cabinet advisers began to
shape the domestic policies of hia
new Administration.
Under Maurice Tobin, secrea
tary of Labor, a team Of indus.
trial relations experts has prepared =
report for Mr.. Truman on what la-
Dor measures should 20 into his
state Of the Union" message to the
new Congress in January.
They have recommended that Mr..
Truman appeal to the new Demo-
cratic-controlled House and Senate To
junk the Taft-Hartley Law and sub
Stltute a compromise which would
merge some features of the 1947 law
and the Wagner Act of 1885.
They also suggest that the President
offer specific compromise bin 20
Congress to accompany the Taft
Hartley repeal measure.
Check on Corporations
Sen. Joseph O'Mahoney (D-Wyo).
who is to become chairman of the
strategic Senate-House Economic
committee, served notice On-a 'few
giant corporations" that he aims to
put double check-reins on their prof
lts-higheP taxes and federal price
and ration curbs.
Il don't want to re-enact OPA,"
Sen. OMahOney said, but do want
to control the present regimentation
OF prices and rationing Of products by
concentrated private interests"
Corporations manufacturing basic
commodities such as steel are in a
position to fix their own prices and
distribution, he said. In this way, he
said, many items needed by the aver
age family are subject to a corporate
rationing system.
"As long as shortages exist in basic
commodities" he said, I'VE should
have government allocation."
To Assume Taft's Post
Sen. O'Mahoney's new post will be
that same strategic one from which
retiring chairman Taft (R-Ohio) de
rected the COP fight in the Both Con-
gress against Mr. Trunan's request
for anti-inhation powers.
The Wyoming senator, who has
steadily backed Mr.. Truman's plea for
an excess profits tax on corporations
said he will introduce such. a bill
after the Democrats take over Con.
gress on January 3. He said he plans
to propose a levy about one-half ot
the wartime rate. .
But Rep. Robert Doughton (D-NC)
who will be chairman of the House
Ways and Means Committee which
initiates tax legislation, said he fore
saw no precipitOuS action on taxes. HI
said it was idle to talk about speeifi
tax plans until Congress had exam
ined the Presidents budget and rev
enue estimates for the fiscal yea
which begins July /.
It takes longer to write a good ta
bill than most people think, he sale
O'MahOney said he expects busi
ness, industry, employment and prof
its to stay at present high levels pro
vided the purchasing power of mil
lions in the lower income groups
not cut off.
To protect the low income buyer,
he proposes imposition of a so to 80
day cooling off period before price
Of basic commodities can be raised
Butter-OleO Feud
One controversial measure whic
the new Congress will consider agai
is repeal of th3 margarine tax. Rel
Harold Cooley (D-NC), slated to b
chairman of the House Agricultur
Committee, said that a pledge to elm
mate OleOmargarihe taxes is a plan
in the Democratic platform.
Cooley said that six changes in tn
agrir ultural committee membershi
would add enough new faces to brin
about favorable committee action.
Oscar Ewing, Federal Security AC
ministratOr, has suggested that tn
President recommend to Congress
broadening of the Social Security sy.
tenn to include members of the arme
forces and perhaps 20 million add
tional civilians. These would includ
many of the self-employed-frol
doctors and dentists to bootblacks-
along with farm hands, statesmen, dC
mestic servants and others not no
covered.