Evening star., 1933-09-13
Government Moves for Higher
Commodity Prices and
Wage Increases.
CURRENCY INITIATION
STRUGGLE NOW ACUTE
Roosevelt's Attitude on Harrison'a
Appeal for Crop Assistance
Remains Undisclosed.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The full power of the Government
will be placed behind the banks in the
drive for additional credit in the
N. r. A. campaign for higher COM
modify prices and increased wages. il
was said in the highest Official quar-
tiers today
Whether the President will acceds
to the recommendation of Senator Har.
rison Of Mississippi, chairman Of ths
Senate Finance Committee, that he usa
the powers in the so-called Thomas
amendment to bring about currency
imitation. was not disclosed
The President, it was said, however,
feels that farm prices have not kept
pace with other prices. He is giving
his earnest attention to that feature
Of the recovery program. It was ex-
planned that the Presidents aim is to
bring farm prices and purchasing
power up to the 1914 level and that
there Is much distance to go before
that point Is attained The gross In
come Of the farmers Of America in 1914
was $4,000, 100000. The gross income
for 1888 is estimated to be Sc, SOC, ,0o0,.
600. while the gross income was S.
200, 900, 900 in 1892 While the gross
income of the farmers was around so
per cent Of the 1914 figure last March,
1t has now increased to about 6623 per
cent.
Gratified by N. r A. Strides.
The President Is gratified that tha
recovery program has made important
strides He has been told by Gen.
Hugh 8. johnson that Is per cent Of
the distance toward recovery has been
covered. The whole recovery program
cannot be completed perhaps within
six months or q year. The administra-
ton is driving ahead with its recovery
program and it was emphasized that
the President expects the banks -
put out the credit necessary to her;
out small merchants, particularly IL
connection with the operation Of the
N. r. A.
The struggle in administration circles
over currency imitation as Q means
of boosting commodity prices, particu-
larly farm crop prices, has become
acute.
There must be some measure Of In
hation to raise the prices Of farm
crops while the crops are still in the
hands of the farmer" Senator Har-
rison said today.
Immediate Steps Forecast.
The Mississippi Senator said he be-
lieved some steps would be taken
Immediately by the administration to
rectify situation that saw cotton
prices lower today than they were at
this time a year ago.
Unless something is DONE" Senator
Harrison continued, the whole national
recovery program is in danger"
The fact that Senator Harrison was
closeted yesterday with President Roose-
welt and after discussing this matter of
imitation at length left the White House
pleased with his interview is interpreted
here as indicating the administration
may soon move in the direction Of in
f1ation.
Senator Harrison's demand for inf1a-
ton along the lines laid down in the
so-called Thomas imitation amendment
put through at the special session OF
Congress is expressive of the feeling OF
unrest reported from many parts of tho
country, particularly the South and the
| agricultural West. Farmers are COM
| planning bitterly because prices Of the
goods they buy have mounted while,
despite the efforts of the Government
under the agricultural relief act. prices
(Noptir,,od ~, Dooo Q CoI,,yvon 7N