Evening star., 1953-02-18
Controls Ended on Milk, Fuel
And Many Repair Services;
Dairy Increase Unlikely Here
Hundreds of Items
On List Affecting
SIS Billion Business


announced immediate end Of
price controls on list Of COM
modities and services ranging
from dairy products and fuels to
repairs on radios. television sets
and automobiles.
The action was the third taken
in recent days in line with Pres
ident EiSenhower'S directive that
all controls be lifted by April 80.
Mr.. Freehill said items decon-
trolled affect approximately Is
per cent of the articles that make
up the cost of living index. This
leaves OPS in full control of
about 13 per cent of the items
and partial control over about
3.5 per cent. Beer, cigarettes,
flour, rice and all cereals are
among those still controlled.
The OPS director predicted
that removal of controls would
result in "some increases" in
drugs and cosmetics, and in auto
repairs and other repair serv-
ices including radio and tele-
vision repairs. With reference to
the So billion dairy industry, he
said there may be an indirect
increase "by virtue of the indus
try not taking seasonal declines
they would have been forced to
take under the control law.
Increases Here Unlikely.
Spokesman for the Maryland
and Virginia Milk Producers
Association have already said
that local producers and retail
ers definitely" won't raise prices
on milk, buttermilk, chocolate
milk or cream. Herman A.
Schukteis, vice president Of the
Chestnut Farms Chevy Chase
Dairy, went on record prior to
the. decontrol action pledging
that: 80 far as we are con-
cerned there will be no change
whatsoever. The only change Is
seasonal and we expect none at
this time"
A ThompSon's Dairy Spokes-
man said: There will be no
raise in price, I do not see any
reason for it now"
Industry officials, however,
pointed out that higher labor
costs later on might change the
picture.
Mr.. Freehill estimated that the
OPS action today affected more
than $50 billion worth of goods
and services based on annual
business volume.
Household Items DecOntrOlled (.
All consumer-type services ex-'
cept laundry, dry cleaning and
linen and diaper supply services
were freed from controls by to-
days orders. All transportation
services and industrial and COM
mercial services except those in
volved in transporting products
still under control were also
freed.
Major household items such as
vacuum cleaners and sewing
machines were decontrolled
though OPS still retains ceilings
on refrigerators, home and farm
freezerS, ranges, washer, dish
washers, driers and ironers, food
waste disposers and water
heaters.
Coal, lumbers, wood, solid fuels
and their related commodities
and services also went on the
list.
Other Items Listed.
other items slated for decon-
troll in today's order include the
following:
Storage, warehousing, dock
and terminal services and rental
of automotive equipment.
Manufacturers sales Of con-
sumer items previously decon-
trolled at wholesale and retail,
such as housewares and radio
and TV parts.
Miscellaneous consumer dur
able goods such as business ma
chimes, duplicating machines,
soda fountain and beer dispens-
ing equipment and the like.
Soft goods, including hairs and
fibers such as mohair, raw silk,
bristles, kapok, Spanish moss
and broom corn.
All sales of commodities made
from plastic sheeting or printed
plastic yard goods such as show
er curtains, tables cloths. mat
tress covers, chair. covers and
crib sheets.
All clocks, cameras and photo
graphic equipment.
Non-metal building materials
including cement, structural
glass, bricks. tiles. plate glass.
insulating products and roofing.
Farm machinery and equip
ment.
Construction machinery and
equipment.
OPS emphasized that today'S
actions are acroSs-the-board de-
controls which eliminate ceilings
for manufacturers, retailers and
wholesalers.