Evening star., 1951-07-22
(Continued From First Page,

Continued From Flrst Page.)
Both bills contain pro-
visions that would seriously weak
en- the present law and add bill
lions Of dollars to consumer and
defense costs" he said.
In congressional Republican cir
cleS, however, leaders and others
prominent in the weeks of floor
debate contended that the House
and Senate bills are adequate
enough as they are.
Speaker Rayburn and Repub-
lican Floor Leader Martin fore
cast favorable action by the
conferees, but not for the same
reason.
Mr.. Rayburn said: I'VE voted
down most Of the bad amend
ments and have confidence that
the conference will bring out 9
workable bill"
Mr.. Martin said: ''The bill
gives President Truman adequate
authority to take care Of the in
flationary situation and keer
down prices if he uses it,"
Senator Capehart of Indiana
one of the Republican conferees
appointed yesterday, said he ex-
|pected "a compromise bill entirely
adequate to deal with imitation"
The leading Republican House
|conferee Representative Wolcott
of Michigan, said he saw nc
reason why these controls can't
be effective if properly ad-
miniStered."
Other Republicans named to the
12-member committee were Sena-
tor Bricker of Ohio and Repre-
SentativeS Gamble of New York
and Tale Of Iowa.
Democratic Conferees Listed.
Senators Maybank of South
Carolina, Fulbright Of Arkansas
and Robertson of Virginia and
Representatives Spence of Ken
lucky, Patman of Texas Brown
of Georgia and Rains Of Alabama
are the Democratic conferees.
committee will start the work
Wednesday. House conferees, he
said, are determined to press fol-
a conclusion by the end of the
week"
Administration hackers in Con-
gress gave little credence X
rumors earlier last week thai
President Truman might veto tht
bill. They noted that a last
minute veto would leave the coun'
try without any economic con-
trolls law.
Representative Spence. who a!
chairman of the Banking Com
mittee led the battle for HOUSE
passage, observed yesterday thai
the measure was "a mighty sicl
measure. Yet, at one time it wa.
much worse, he said.
Conciliatory Statement.
Mr.. Johnston, while indicating
dissatisfaction with the bill a!
passed by the House. issued 6
comparatively conciliatory state.
ment that blended confidence anc
warnings.
He listed these four key is.
sues" he said the conference com.
mittee must decide in drafting &
final bill which will determine
the fate Of stabilization":
Il. Are we to have self lf-admin.
istered pyramiding cost-plus pric.
ing, with business encouraged moi
to. cut costs but to increase cost:
so that it can make ever-highel
profits?
20. Must we give up any hope
of rolling back excessive prices
which reflect abnormal and ex-
tortionate profit margins?
''3. Are we to have higher
rather than lower meat prices
and so hamstring price control
administration as to stimulate
black markets in meat?
Il Must rents in presently con-
trolled areas of critical housing
shortage either remain uncon-
trolled or be legalized at boom
town levels?"
Mr.. Johnston declared that the
conferees should answer mo" tc
each of those questions. He Of
fered these reasons:
q. The cost-plus pricing pro-
vision in the House bill would turn
all retailers and wholesalers into
commission statesmen for inf1a-
ton by allowing them to add q
percentage commission on every
cost increase. This constant pyra-
Il