Evening star., 1948-11-07

ooIASo =. VCOU PldCcS papers
White House after a conferen,
terday.
Republican, of Oregon. He said the
matter should be worked out be-
tween Congress and the President.
A like-minded Republican, Sena-
tor Aiken of Vermont, said possibly
Mr.. Truman should be given power
to fix prices under restrictions laid
down by Congress.
Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat, of
wyoming. said Congress must act
to prevent further price increases
Sparkman Backs Controls.
Legislation to that end should be
enacted, but its exact form should
depend upon the report of the Presi-
dents economic advisers" OMa-
honey said.
Senator Sparkman, Democrat, of
Alabama, Banking Committee
member, said he favors standby con-
trolls on prices "as circumstances
warrant"
Senator Holland, Democrat, of
Florida, opposed price controls. Sem
ator Stennis, Democrat, of Missis-
sippi, said he would have to be per-
suaded. Senator Ellender. Demo-
crat, of Louisiana said he would 60
along with a limited, temporary
program.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, of
Florida, favored giving the President
such powers "if it is necessary to
reduce the cost of living" A Re-
publican, Senator Mccarthy of Wis
conSin, said he is opposed to
blanket control"
Several members qualified their
opposition to price controls by say
ing they would go along with such
legislation in real emergency or if
prices started spiralling upward
again.
Representative Spence, Democrat,
OF Kentucky, who is in line for
chairmanshipe of the House Banking
Committee, said he favors curbing
prices but would not necessarily give
fun authority to the President.
"duS~Oltu rs opQOSeu.
A veteran Republican, Represent
ative Wadsworth of New York said
he is opposed to price controls be-
cause there would be an inevitable
decline in production and the crea-
ton of black markets"
Earl T. Wagner, Democratic
Representative-elect from Ohio, said
he favors trying voluntary persuas-
ion first.
Representative Rich, Republican,
of Pennsylvania was fatty opposed
to price controls. 1T can't be done
to the satisfaction of the American
people" he said.
Representative Javits, Republican,
of Pennsylvania said he favors Sc
lective price controls and rationing
on dairy products, meat, clothing
and steel on an emergency basis.
Representative Deane, Democrat.
Of North Carolina said he doesn't
think the country will ever 60 back
to overall controls, but he added:
I'm the event prices don't come
down, I feel that there is an urgent
need for some type of stabilizer-
ALLEGATIONS or sound controls"
Should Curb Wages Also.
Representatives. elect Cecil F.
White, Democratic, of California
said if prices continue to fall on
foodstuffs he would not favor con-
trolls but "if large appropriations
become necessary to carry out ECA,
it may mean another rise in the
general price level in which case I
would advocate controls"
Representative Murdock, Demo-
crat, of Arizona said he sees no
need for an extensive price control
program such as was in effect dur
ing the war.
Il do believe that If we had lis
tened to the Presidents message to
the 80th Congress and given the
President standby control powers
over the major necessities of life
we would not be plagued with the
high cost of living to the degree we
are now."
Representative Hinshaw, Repub-
lican, of California said if Con-
gress gives Mr.. Truman power to
control prices it should give him
authority over wages and jobs, too
While the vast majority of those
answering approved the theory of
the European Recovery Program,
many said they want to see how
successful it has been in the first
year before they are called upon to
approve new grants.
Dissenters on ECA Heard.
There were some dissenters.
Il am absolutely opposed to the
foreign aid program as presently
constituted" said Representative
Frederick c. Smith, Republican, of
Ohio. I'VE should, of course, aid
the hungry and starving, but should
stop Immediately feeding socialism
and communism in Europe and else
where as it is being accomplished
under the Marshall Plan"
Representative Rich, Republican,
of Pennsylvania said: THE ship is
liable to sink because we meddled."
Representative Kee, Democrat, of
West Virginia, secondrranking
Democrat on the House Foreign
Affairs Committee. said aid to China
should be included in any admins
tration plans.
Many Of those who gave either
yes" or mo- answers to the repeal
OF the Tsft-Hartley Act said they
would be willing to consider modi-
fications either to it or to the basic
Wagner Act which governed labor
management problems before its
passage.
A few, however, wanted to make
the Taft-Hartley Act even stronger.
I'm five years, there won't be an
intelligent labor man" who will op-
pose the Taft-Hartley Act, said
| Representative Michener. Reprbli-