SURPRISE COMMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26622, 19 November 1947, Page 5

SURPRISE COMMENT

BROAD POWERS SOUGHT REPUBLICAN REACTION CRITICAL Rec. 9 p.m. WASHINGTON, Nov. 17. President Truman’s drastic plan to curb prices appears to be heading for rough treatment by the Rspublicancontrolled Congress. There was, however, general sympathy with his plea for emergency aid for Europe. Republicans and Democrats generally agreed that interim aid was not only necessary but urgent. The United Press says that the first Republican reaction was one of surprise and anger at the unexpectedly broad powers sought by Mr Truman. Cries of “ politics ” rang out almost as soon as the President finished speaking, and even some Democrats predicted that the proposals would soon run into trouble.

The House Republican leader, Mr Charles Halleck (Indiana), declared that the President was trying to get Congress to correct the Administration’s “ bungling, mismanagement, maladministration, and .bad governmental policy.” The Republican National chairman, Mr Carroll Reece, said that Mr Truman was “hopelessly bewildered” and trying to establish the very police state that he denounced so emphatically last month.

The Republicans held a series of locked-door meetings soon after the President spoke. The United Pr_ss says there are strong indications that the Republicans may try to , draft a counter programme of their own to cope with the further threat of domestic inflation.

The House Speaker, Mr Joseph Martin,' after conferring with leading House Republicans, said the President’s economic control programme had little chance of enactment at the special session and added that the President “should have known that he could not get measures so controversial and of such magnitude enacted in the space of time between now and the regular session in January.” Typical comments on Mr Truman’s control proposals were—:Senator John Sparkman (Democrat, Alabama): “A courageous and positive programme. It left the problem right in the lap of Congress.” Senator Eugene Millikin (Republican, Colorado): “I am sorry the President did not propose a reduction in Government spending equal tc his foreign aid exnenditure.” Senator Robert Taft, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, declared that Mr Truman's proposals were a “step toward a completely totalitarian nation.” Senator Taft contended that the return to Government control would leave the nation with no surpluses for the foreign aid programme. “The way to hold prices down is for the Government to spend less money, reduce taxes, limit exports, control the growth of private credit and hold the Marshall Plan within a reasonable figure.”

Senator Taft said of aboui 20.000,000,000 dollars worth of export? in 1947, only about 40 per cent, weni to Europe while 12,000,000,000 weni to other sections of the world Surely the United States should ration the rest of the world on steel, grain and oil before even considering ration, ing its own people. The New York Times editorial on the President’s economic programme says: “It is to be hoped that we will be spared the. anguished cries of those who raise the spectre of totalitarianisn. whenever a Government attempts tc attack emergency with emergency. The President’s address was by almost anj test a genuinely commendable effort.’ The Herald Tribune says: “Mr Truman’s programme was bold in concept but was presented with damaging caution and was inadequate in approach. It is undoubtedly a moderate, even the minimum programme, for any real attack on inflation. If it is not applied with vigour it will be largely . useless. . The nation has reached the point of a crisis at which skill and courage are better arms than cautious ineptitude. There is no turning back from difficulties surrounding us and no room for petty politics in meeting them. Mr Truman’s address caused barely a flutter on Wall Street. Trading was sluggish all morning but after Mr Truman’s message there was a slight rally. Leading commodity markets showed a firmer trend after Mr Truman’s message. Wheat soared on shorl covering and cotton futures rose sharply.