The Daily Alaska Empire

Demo Solon Asks Truce On Politics

O'Mahoney Answers GOP Charges of Votes Being Sought Despite War

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14- (A) - Senator Bricker (R-Ohio) contended in the Senate today that Congress ought to keep for itself the right to decide when and if wage and price controls are needed.

He argued against granting that power to President Truman as proposed in pending economic controls legislation.

To give wage-price powers to the President, he said, would create two dangers:

First, a piecemeal approach would create inequities faster than they could be corrected.

Second. the President would be subject to the tremendous pressure to control certain commodities. and having started a piecemeal system, he would be "powerless to stop general price and wage controls even if he should feel they were premature."

Over the weekend two Republican lawmakers assailed the Truman administration's handling of the program. Sen. O'Mahoney (D-Wyo). talking with reporters, called in reply for "a truce on partisan politics."

"I think this is a very poor time for anyone-Democrats or Republicans-to challenge the motives of those who are called upon to make the extremely difficult decisions required," O'Mahoney declared.

"This of all times is a time for a truce on partisan politics."

O'Mahoney was replying to weekend attacks on the administration by Senators Aiken (R-Vt) and Martin (R-Pa).

Aiken predicted easy Senate passage late this week of a House-approved bill which would set up authority for wage-price-rationing curbs, but he said President Truman declined "for political reasons" to ask Congress for these controls.

Mr. Truman did ask for immediate power to allocate materials, set up priorities and curb credit. The bill which the House passed and which appears to face smooth sailing in the Senate would also give him authority, for use when he saw fit, to control prices and wages and impose rationing.

Aiken contended that Mr. Truman has his eye on the November elections and has been "negligent in leaving the American people in the dark about the gravity" of the world situation.

Martin accused the administration of a tendency to play politics with the nation's security, and asked:

"Can we wait until after the November elections to tell the people of America the real truth? Can we place votes first?"