The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-12-06

| siOnal representatives OF con-
| sumers a status in the Federal
Government which would enable
them to take action which many
think would result in the unWise
harassment of industry.
Opponents of proposals under
serious consideration, contend
that, if carried out. they would
place the consumers representa-
lives in a position to influence
unjustly and dangerously the
public's attitude toward the price
and quality of manufactured
products and toward other as
poets Of business operations.
| Such a far-reaching expansion
of federal intervention in the con-
| duct Of business is looked upon
with grave apprehension by Op-
ponents of Big Government and
by supporters Of the Private En-
terplise System.
This step, it is pointed out,
would inevitably create another
huge Federal Bureaucracy to in
terfere with the millions of bust
ness decisions made daily by
manufacturers and retailers.
Many business operations. it is
explained, already are being
regulated by a number of federal
agencies = all of which are ex-
ceedingly jealous (too much SO,
in many cases ir looking out for
the interests of consumers.
Not to be overlooked also is the
high degree of competition which
now protects purchasers against
prices that are too high and
| quality which is too low.
What assuredly is not needed,
it is contended, is a group Of Gov
ernment BureaucratS in Washing
ton telling consumers that they
should purchase a certain suit,
or a certain automobile, or a GER
ain lipstick, made by certain
manufacturers.
This idea Of appointing Gov
eminent officials to specifically
represent consumers has been
advocated for many years by
New Dealers - and was tried out
on limited scale during the
+ early Roosevelt administration.
Now, a group Of "a Senators
headed by Kefauver ID. Tenn.
are campaigning vigorously fo1
the adjustment of a Depart
ment of Consumers-With Cabinet
status.
Their effort has been stimu
lated by President-elect Ken
nedy's announcement during the
political campaign that he def,
nitely intended to appoint Con
sumner Counsel in the Office OF
the Office of the President tic
represent the interest Of the
American consumer in all the
activities Of Government"
Mr.. Kennedy's staff is now
making study to determine
whether his plan should be ex-
banded to include new Govern
ment Department with Cabinet
rank.
The Senators advocating such
step introduced a bill on March
| 26, 1859. Hearings were held by
the Senate Government Opera
tons Committee, during which
the legislation was ardently sup
ported by labor union spokesman
and opposed by representatives
Of business and by the Bureau of
the Budget.
The vast potentialities of the
proposal are pointed. up by the
fact that the new Government
Department would be directed to
investigate:
81. The productive capacity
for. and the production of, goods
affecting consumers within the
United States.
%. The systems and mechan-
isms in use for the distribution of
such goods, and the effects there
of.
%. The level Of prices for
goods and services affecting con-
sumers, the factors entering into
their establishment, and their
reasonableness.
"a. The quality and suitability
of goods affecting consumers,
and the factors influencing the
quality and suitability Of such
Goods.
IS. The degree to which the
trade and o m m rec of the
United States succeeds in satisfy
ing consumer needs for goods
and services.
Manufacturers would be re-
quired to provide information re-
quested by the Department. The
Department then would be free
to wage a propaganda campaign
to brainwash the public along
whatever lines seemed attractive
to the Government BureaucratS
at the time.
It seems obvious to opponents
that giving BureaucratS such vast