Evening star., 1950-10-23

gray mODlllZaClOn perlOQ you
should put all the economy in a
straight-jacket of direct control"
Mr.. Symington also disclosed
the establishment of board to
act as a sort of general staff for
defense production. This board
includes about 20 top Govern
ment officials concerned with the
economic mobilization.
Would Tighten Taxes First.
The NSRB chairman, answering
questions at news conference on
the possibility of price and wage
controls, said: 1T would seem
dangerous to me to put sweeping
controls on the American econ.
omy, unless we first try other
controls"
The other controls he mentioned
were higher taxes, credit restric-
tlons, and ALLEGATION of materials.
He made it clear that he did
not want to discuss the subject
too deeply because the decisions
were not his to make, but were
Alan Valentines. Mr.. Valentine is
the recently-appointed Economic
Sterilization Administrator. -.
Hardship Cases Protest Least.
1T is beginning to look as il
everybody wants controls so long
as they do not affect him. Mr..
Symington said. Those hurt the
most are protesting least" He
said he referred particularly to
World War II widows with chill
dren and those retired persons on
fixed incomes. He said they really
get hit "by the tightening of the
dollar"
Asked how long he would give
the indirect controls a trial run
to avoid imitation. he said this
would be known when it is ap-
parent whether business, labor,
and the people generally will
work and play ball"
| Mr.. Symington said the NSRB
had done its best to find out why
prices. especially for raw ma
terials, had gone up, especially
where there have been no wage
increases.
He declined to say what the
results of the Investigation have
been. but said the subject will be
pursued by Congress.
He pointed also to the high
level of profits, which he said.
were running in the third quar-
ter OF the year higher than at any
time in the history of the world.
Mr.. Symington said Mr.. Valentine
had been talking with people an
over the country who had expert.
ence in the last war with direct
controls. He added the warning
the Nations economy could be
hurt by doing the wrong thing.
General Staff Board Meets.
The general staff board on de-
tense production and the economy
has had several meetings-the
last one last Wednesday.
Mr.. Symington said he Thought
1t was good idea to get together
IN one room representatives of all
the agencies that have any control
over the economy. Also included
are Fred j. Lawton. budget direc-
tor. and Leon H. Keyserling.
chairman of the Council of Eco
nomic Advisors.
Mr.. Symington also announced
regulations covering accelerated
amortization of plants built for
the mobilization effort are ready
Tor submission to President Tru.
man.
He said businessmen asking au-
thorlty to write off emergency
construction and thereby get tax
benefits should make application
10 the NSRB, which would refer
each matter to its appropriate
agency.
Civilian Aluminium Facing Cut.
Mr.. Symington said he was
meeting today with representa-
tlves OF the aluminium industry.
out he did not explain who they
were. or the purpose of the meet
ing. This came on the heels of
disclosure that there may be cuts
IN the amount of aluminium for
civilian goods, in order to save
the metal for airplane construc-
ton.
The National Production Au-
thority is now working on orders
fSee CONTROLS, Page A-6.)