Evening star., 1948-07-27
Congress
Continued From First Page.)

in recommending the limited price
wage curb, the President declared,
Il have said before, and I repeat,
that many profit margins have been
adequate to absorb wage increases
without the price increases that
have followed.
Consumer Credit Curb Asked.
He again requested installment-
buying checks. such as those which
specify how much down payment
must be made and the time in which
the balance may be paid off In
installments. He called such checks
a move Ito hold down inflationary
credit" He said also the Federal
Reserve Board should "be given
greater authority to regulate infia-
tionary bank credit"
Regulation of speculation on COM
modify exchanges, authority for al
location and inventory control OF
scarce commodities affecting indus
trial production or the cost OF living
and strengthened rent control legis-
lation were other factors the Pres
ident said should be incorporated
In the attack on imitation.
The measures I have recon-
mended make up a balanced pro-
gram to attack high prices, he said
They are all necessary to check
rising prices and safeguard our
economy against the danger of de-
preston. If they are made the
first order of business by the Con-
gress, as they should be. they can
be promptly enacted Every week
Of delay will mean additional hard
ship for the American people"
Prices and Housing First.
In the 3,000-word message which
was broadcast to the Nation, the
President, as expected, hit hardest
on imitation and housing, and while
he listed more than a dozen other
items for Congressional action-in-
Guiding the explosive civil rights
programme stressed that prices and
housing should come first.
II hope there is no misunder-
standing of the recommendations l
have made" he said. Il have asked
the Congress to return, first of all
In order to meet the urgent need of
our people for relief from high
prices and the housing shortage. I
urge the Congress not to be dis
tracted from these central pur-
poses
To buttress his argument for in
fation controls, the President re-
peated his countless warnings that
the free nations of the world are
dependent on a stable economy here,
declaring that the Communists
both here and abroad, are counting
on our present prosperity turning
into a depression"
On housing, Mr.. Truman called
the Senate-approved Taft-Ellender-
Wagner long range measure "a good
housing bill" and "a bill we need
He added:
I'VE need it now, not year from
now. If this legislation is passed
this summer, it will be possible to
start Immediately the production
of more houses of the kind our
families need, at prices they can
afford to pay. II it Is not passed
now, the Eighty-firs Congress will
have to start all over again with a
new housing bill. In that case we
might lose a full year in meeting
our national housing needs.
This Congress can complete ac-
ton on this comprehensive housing
bill in a few days. I strongly urge
that 1t do So"
Aid to Education Stressed.
Immediately behind prices and
housing, President Truman called
for Congress to act on these items
/. Aid for education, which would
entail a $500, ,000, 900 grant for States,
already approved by the Senate.
2. Minimum wage increase to "at
least" rs cents hourly, instead Of the
prevailing Accent rate.
g. An increase of at least so per
cent in social security benefits: ex-
tension Of coverage and lowering
from IS to so the age at which