Evening star., 1951-01-27
Reaction
Continued From First Page)

Government reach only the
symptoms of imitation" and not
the cause.
He said the solution lies in
greater production, pay
taxation for the country's re-
armament program. effective
credit curbs and drastic economy
in Government non defense
spending.
An Associated Press survey
showed that many businessmen
were ready to cooperate fully
with the orders while withholding
their approval.
A chain store operator, a tele-
vision manufacturer and others
predicted the controls would re-
suit in scarcities in some items.
Members of Congress were
rather generally agreed that the
control had to come but several
of them said they came too late.
Every element of value was be-
ing destroyed" said Representa-
tive Spence. Democrat. of Ken
lucky. Not only the purchasing
power of the wage dollar, but the
savings of the people. and the
defense costs of the Government
were pyramiding."
Bridges CriticiZes Action.
Senator Bridges, Republican, of
New Hampshire, said:
This freeze order is like locking
the barn door after the horse is
stolen and then leaving printed
instructions tackled to the barn
door on how to pick the lock in
case any one wants to steal the
hay
Senator Douglas, Democrat. of
Illinois called the freeze probably
necessary" but urged added taxes
to balance the budget.
Senator Capehart. Republican,
Of Indiana, said the action comes
just six months late" He was not
surprised that the freeze order did
not call for a price roll-back, he
said, adding:
"It would be impossible to roll
prices back at this point because
they have scared so high it just
isn't practicable"
Douglas Sees Little Effect.
Senator Douglas, Democrat, of
Illinois, said in New York last
night that the freeze "is probably
necessary but he expressed belief
it will be ineffective unless we
raise sufficient amount in taxes
to meet added military expendi-
lures and hence balance the bud
get
Chairman O'Mahoney of the
Senate-House Economic Commit
tee welcomed the action but said
1T has been long delayed-too
long"
Better late than never" was
the comment of Senator Spark
man, Democrat, of Oklahoma.
On the lack of rollback, Senator
Sparkman said, Il know the diff
f1culties of cutting prices back
when they have gotten out of
hand"
| Representative Hoffman, Re-
publican, of Michigan said: They
should have done something long
ago rolling back prices and
wages to the middle of last year.
1t isn't very effective, after wait
ing for all those increases in
wages and prices
Hope Supports Decision.
/ Representative Hope of Kansas.
ranking Republican member of
the House Agriculture Commit
tee, supported the administra-
tion's decision not to roll prices
back. He said:
Il think it is a wise move to
freeze prices as of last night
rather than select an earlier date,
because it would have created a
lot of administrative difficulties.
Senator Hickenlooper, Repub-
lican, of Iowa said he questions
the wisdom of bringing any kind
of meat under price control,
adding:
1T means a return to under
the-counter sales, steak at SO a
pound and a general recurrence
of the black market. That's what
happened under meat price con-
troll before. 1t will happen again
Inevitably"