Evening star., 1933-03-17
FARM GROUPS ASK
PASSAGE OF BILL.
Urge Committees to Rush
Crop Control Measure
for Vote.
Continued From First Page.)


Others said they proposed a halt in
rubber stamping procedure"
Meanwhile, Representatives of proc
essors hurriedly analyZed the long and
complicated bill, some of them definitely
committed to battling its enactment.
Others were 1tilled by the Presidents
plea in his s<scial message to Congress
yesterday for "a fair trial" of the
measure.
Some professors were particularly in
terested in a provision that would let
Secretary Wallace require all to be
licensed, whether they handled COM
moditieS named in the bill or COM
peting products. This would permit
assessment Of $1,000-a-day fines against
those who operated without licenses.
Wallace, however, indicated he did
not intend to use this unless professors
failed to cooperate willingly.
Sweeping Powers Given.
Based on recommendations of farm
organization leaders and editors, the
Secretary Wallace sweeping powers to
deal with the problems of low prices
and surplus production. The program
has flexibility, empowering Wallace to
employ parts or all Of several plans,
including the Smith cotton method, the
principles of the domestic allotment
BILL leasing of lands to retire them
from production and trade agreements.
Through the cooperative agreements
between producers and professors,
Wallace is hopeful of accomplishing
the purpose of the program. He has
conferred with representatives OF
millers, packers, cotton spinners and
others and expressed himself as conf
dent of winning their support.
A professors tax Is the chief source
OF revenue proposed to provide funds to
finance the program. From 1t, pay
ments in the form Of rentals or benefits
or both could be paid to farmers In
return for agreements to curtail
production.
The Smith option plan would be
applicable to cotton planters. its pur-
pose being to buy up supplies OF cotton
in which the Government now has a
financial interest and to give growers
options on these in return for produc-
ton cuts. Enhancement Of the value
of cotton theoretically would benefit
the grower and option holder.
Restoration of farm prices to the
19O9-19l4 pre-war level IS the goal. II
and when that goal Is attained, the
plan would 60 out of operation. The
professors tax, If levied in the maxi
mum amount, would be in an amount
pre-war level and current market prices.
Roosevelt Is Hopeful.
The President asserted that the
measure "offers great promise OF good
results" adding:
Il tell you frankly that it is a new
and untrod Path. but tell you with
equal frankness that an unprecedented
condition calls for the trial of new
means to rescue agriculture.
If a fair administrative trial OF 1t
is made and it does not produce the
hoped for results 1 shall be the flrst
to acknowledge it and advise you" he
said.
Secretary Wallace said that if the
measure passed he would aim to bring
about this year 20 per cent reduc-
ton in acreage of all crops covered by
it. He said that in no case is the
consumer going to be gouged.
The President also urged quick action
not only to make the plan effective for
this years crop planting of which al
ready has begun in the South, but to
place this country "in a better posi-
ton to discuss problems affecting world
crop surpluses at the proposed world
economic conference"
At that time, the President has said
he will seek worldwide wheat pro-
duction curtailment agreement.
Secretary Wallace said the. proposed
trade agreements with packers and
other professors would be exempt from
provisions of the antitrust laws. 1t is
his aim to accomplish the purpose OF
the act wherever possible by agreements
with professors and producers and to
use his authority to license, regulate
and levy the professors tax only in
case Of necessity.
Envisioned as Club"
at will serve as a club" he said.
In the case of hogs and corn, the
payment of rent for retirement of corn
land from production will be contingent
upon a corresponding reduction in the
quantity of hogs marketed by the pro-
ducer In the case of cash crops, the
rental or benefit payment may be
based primarily upon reduction in
acreage of the particular crop. Wallace
also would have power to rent land in
large tracts in selected regions or to
allot acreages to States and counties to
give producers an equal opportunity to
retire land and receive rental.