Evening star., 1951-02-06
Early Peace Forecast
In Dispute Over Price
Control Enforcement
By jones Y. Newton

~~~ $4,000 tf4aS SO44h vi VIC SCll-
ate-House Committee on Defense
Production predicted today an
early settlement of inter-agency
differences over who shall have
charge of enforcing price con-
trolls.
The conflict over enforcement of
controls has been going on be-
tween the Office of Price Stabiliza-
tion and the Justice Department.
Senator Maybank said he was so
certain the differences would be
ironed out that he had Cancelled a
committee hearing in the matter
which had been set for tomorrow
He had announced earlier that At
torney General McGrath and Price
Director Michael v. Disable would
be summoned to tell their sides of
the story.
1T is my Judgment that they
are going to get together" Sena-
tor Maybank commented in an
nouncing cancellation of the
hearing"
Urges Full Authority for Justice.
Senator Maryland said there
was no doubt in his mind but
that the Justice Department
should have full authority over
litigation and other enforcement
matters dealing with both price
and wage controls.
That is the law and that is
what I would like to see done" :"
he added.
'> He said that investigators at
'tached to Mr.. DiSalle's office
would make their reports of price
violations to the various United
States district attorneys, who
would then handle the cases in
court.
The promised clearing of the
air on enforcement came as Mr.,
Disable promised the Nation to
tighten regulations of meat sup
plies.
The promise was made in a
speech in Toledo. Ohio, where Mi.
Disable formerly served as mayor.
He said it would be done through
issuance soon to two regulations.
Toughest Warning.
He also made his toughest
warning so far against black mar
kets, saying ''the black marketeer
is a first class fifth columnist for
Stain and I would hate to be the
first one to get caught"
Mr.. Disable admitted frankly
that the rising cost of living cam
not be stopped suddenly-"It may
take us much of 1851 to put the
lid on the inf1ationary forces gen.
Grated in the last year."
But he said if the January Is
price freeze order had not been
issued, prices today would be
much higher than they are now"
AS for the two meat orders,
Mr.. Disable said:
l. Il can announce to YOU to-
night that the Office of Price Sta
bilization will within a few DAYS
issue an order regulating the
slaughter of livestock. This is a
first and necessary step toward
controlling prices of the Nations
meat supply"
Will Keep Supplies Moving.
2. I'VE will follow up this reg
ulation with another which will
keep meat supplies moving
through legitimate channels or
distribution and enable the house
wife to buy adequate supplies of
meat from her regular butcher at
legal ceiling prices"
Meat prices for each seller above
the farm level are now frozen at
the highest price he charged in
the period from December 10 to
January 25.
Mr.. Disable said that I'VE know
that it takes two to make black
market-the buyer as we'll as the
seller-and this time we're going
after both"
An aide to the price chief said
he wasn't talking about the ordi-
nary housewife, but had in mind
any restaurant, hotel or meat
market that may pay over-ceiling
prices for meat.
In another mobilization devel-
opment, spokesman for the
aluminium smelling industry &C
cused three Government agencies
Of helping keep scrap aluminium
off the open market. He said this
vicious" practice tends to in
crease prices.
The spokesman, Carl H. Burton,
secretary of the Aluminium Insti-
tute of Chicago, told House Ju-
dietary subcommittee on monopoly
power that aircraft manufacturers
are selling scrap back to their
primary suppliers instead of put
ting it on the open market.