Evening star., 1933-01-13
M'NARY MAY BACK |
HOUSE FARM BILL
Would Bring Plan "Within
Constitution"-Committee
Meets Monday.
Continued From First Page.)

think further hearings on the Senate
side would be necessary, but this was
question for the committee to de-
termine
Meanwhile the emergency price-fix-
ing plan voted by the House in the hope
of adding millions to the 1888 national
farm income faced two obstacles-the
Senate and President Hoover.
Senators for the most part reserved
opinion pending closer study Of the
intricate allotment bills provisions.
But in some quarters there was strong
opposition as hopeful sponsors began
drive for the needed majority.
Democrats Fear Veto.
Even should this be obtained, Demo-
cratic leaders have said they believe
Mr.. Hoover will veto the one-year plan.
By a vote of 203 to ISL, the measure
was passed by the House late yesterday,
the rumored friendliness of President
elect Roosevelt being big factor in
mastering this strength.
But despite the reported desire OF
Mr.. Roosevelt to see such legislation
enacted, the ranking Democrat on the
Senate Agriculture Committee-Smith
OF South Carolina-already has 1ndi-
Gated his opposition.
Senator Borah, Republican, Of Idaho,
without committing himself, has ex-
pressed doubt about the measure.
Nevertheless, prompt committee con-
sideration of the House bill which would
pay bounty to producers of seven
commodities - wheat, cotton. tobacco,
hogs. rice, dairy products and peanuts
was assured 1t was after the last
three commodities had been added to
the original bill that 139 House Demo-
Gratis, 63 Republicans and l Farmer
Laborite united against 101 Republicans
and so Democrats to secure its passage.
One hopeful sign cited by Senate ad-
body in passing bill-though it later
was Notwithstanding form Of the
domestic allotment plan.
The House bill Is intended, for one
year period, to put into the farmers
pocket a cash return approaching a
pre-war ratio with industrial commodity
prices. 1t would start in this way:
For all benefited commodities, except
tobacco, an initial marketing period,
beginning 80 days after enactment and
ending when the 1933-34 marketing
year starts. would be established. In this
period, these minimum prices would
prevail: Seventy-flve cents bushel
on wheat and rice, 9 cents a pound
on cotton, 5 cents pound on hogs,
rs cents a pound on butterfat and 8
cents a pound on peanuts.
A Tax on Processing.
Whenever average market prices re-
ceived by the producer dropped below
these prices-as they are now-the Sec
retary of Agriculture would declare the
difference between the two and that
difference would be levied as a tax on
processing. Collections would be paid
out as a bounty to farmers on their
percentage Of domestic consumption,
or In the case Of dairymen, on so per
cent of their production.
Hogs would provide slight variation.
While the bounty would be figured
on scent basis, the tax would be de-
termined on graduated scale mount
ing from 81 to AZ cents a pound, and
to participate hog producers would have
to market 20 per cent less tonnage.
Once the 1884 year began, pre-
war parity prices would become ef-
fective for all commodities except hogs,
cents plus u cent for every 10
point increase in the index Of factory
employment. Tobacco would be in
cluded at this stage.
All growers participating would have
to prove 20 per cent acreage cut,
dairymen could not increase production
and hog producers would have to cut
corn acreage as well as tonnage 20
per cent.
A presidential proclamation would
be needed to continue the bill on any
or all commodities a second year.
The bill puts the cotton processing
tax rate on silk and rayon. A scent
per pound tariff Is put on short-staple
cotton, the same duty on oils and fats,
and all existing duties are increased
by the amount of the prevailing proc
essing tax.
Charles W. Holman, secretary Of the
National Cooperative Milk Producers
Federation. said the oil tariff will
reach approximately 1000, 600, 900
pounds Of competitive imported oils and
fats" 1t constituted, he said, "the most
significant tariff victory for agriculture
of the century"