OCR Text |
Show COMMENTS FREEDOM IS UP TO CONGRESS Instances of unjustified regulatory oppression in the name oftliewar emergency, 'are accumulating ''with frightening frighten-ing rapidity. Even more frightening is the growing evidence that the citizen cannot seek relief from this oppression through the judiciary. Recent attempts to secure court review re-view of War Labor Board decisions and OPA price decrees have revealed that the "emergency" laws creating such agencies agen-cies are so drawn as to either deny recourse to the regular courts or, as in case of violation of retail price regulations, make of the courts mere instruments of harsh enforcement. If a retail merchant violates a price rule, the minimum penalty has been a $50 fine plus lawyer's fee and costs, that is' what the emergency Price Control Act calls for. The courts have held that according to this! law it doesn't mrltter if the overcharge is as little as lc, or if was admittedly through an honest mistake of the merchant or his employe. The good faith of the merchant' has nothing to do with it. The f'.ni is still $50. Thus every petty sno'op and shyster lawyer in, the country is encouraged to search for) the inadvertent penny mistakes of retailers, with the assurance of a' rich reward. |