Evening star., 1951-02-24

lowed Dy nlgner wages, IOlOWeQ Dy
still higher prices and still higher
wages, we permit spiral of untold
hardship on the American people.
Danger signals began to go up
during the month following Korea.
As time went by the storm got
worse. In his speech Of December
is, the President announced that
the Government was going to i'm
pose price and wage controls.
On January 26, the first steps de-
signed to halt price and wage in
|creases were taken.
Best Stop Gap Controls.
These were at best stop-gap con-
trolls. They were the quickest relief
we could find, and certainly speed
was necessary. OF course, there are
|inequities. But the freeze did put
the brakes on.
Already some Of the inequities
In the price and wage freeze orders
have been softened by notifications.
Some prices have risen slightly.
Some wages have been unfrozen.
AS quickly as possible individual
price programs, by commodities, will
be set up.
These will be established with
the best interest of both the buyer
and seller in mind. They will be
established within the broad anti
imitation program on which Eric
Johnston's staff is now hard at work.
Wage policies, too. are being mod
flied again to conform with the
best interest Of the entire economy.
You ask: Why were wage and
price freezes followed by immediate
thaws? What good is a system Of
ceilings If we are going to have
holes in the roof?
These are fair questions. To begin
with, the word freeze" is unfortu-
nate. We put the brakes on car
that was travelling dangerously fast.
We couldn't stop it dead. 1t will
run for a little while even with the
brakes on.
I wonder whether you realize how
complex wage and price stabiliza-
tion really is. It sounds both easy
and attractive.
Deserve Fair Treatment.
There are several million in
dividual businesses in this country
and many million wage earners. All
are Immediately affected by ceilings
on prices and wages.
All of these people deserve to be
treated fairly.
The vast job of compiling just
the information needed to deal
fairly with all of them would have
taken so much effort that the Gov
ernment could not have physically
completed the job within reason
able time. In the meantime inf1a-
ton was rushing on.
Therefore, the time came when
it was more important to put on a
so-called freeze, with all of its
possible inequities, than it was to
make all the detailed studies in
advance. That is what was done.
You might look at 1t this way:
For the common good 1t seemed
better to put some control sys-
tenn into effect, and then make
exceptions to 1t, than to have no
system at ALL.
OF all the problems involved in
price and wage stabilization, one
of the most difficult is control of
food prices. We can hardly expect
"a worker to see his wages frozen
without complaint when his wife
tells him that the food bill is going
up each week. But no matter how
difficult the problem, it must be
solved. 1t must be solved with
| justice to consumers, wage earners
and farmers alike.
... In carrying out it's task, the
Office of Defense Mobilization is
getting lot of criticism. Criticism
is part of the democratic process.
We expect it, profit by it, and will
do everything possible to translate
constructive criticism into sound
national policy.
You, the citizens of America,
through your Congress, have de-
Icided to increase the strength of a
free people. We believe you mean
tive are acting on that belief.
We are dedicated to task that
transcends all parties and all fac
tions-maintaining the security Of
the United States.
I hope that each of you will think
1T appropriate, as I do, to conclude
this report by acknowledging that in
our task we need the help that
comes from our faith in Almighty
God, and wisdom beyond our own.
Let's bow our heads in humble
supplication for His help and guid-
|ance-and then do the job to be
done.