Evening star., 1935-04-13
FARMERS PROTEST
Mr.. A. CODEPR|CES
DiSparities Between Farm
and industrial Figures Seen
Hindering Recovery.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Farmers, speaking through the Ma
tional Grange, protested to the Sen
ate Finance Committee today that
recovery had been retarded by a dis
parity between agricultural and in
dustrial prices under N. r. A. They
demanded elimination of monopollstlc
code provisions If the recovery law
is extended.
Fred Brenckman, Washington rep
resentative, was spokesman for the
grange. He told the Senate N. r. A.
investigators that disparities between
farm and industrial prices had been
prolonged as a result of artificial
and arbitrary regulation Rnd regi-
mentation = of industry nder the
N. R. A."
The committee sat in a Saturday
session in an effort to conclude next
week if possible. the inquiry into ad-
ministration of the recovery law.
Code Held Poultry Aid.
James E. Rice. Cornell University
professor and New York poultryman,
told the committee the poultry code
had proved of benefit to farmers and
poultry breeders. Poultrymen. he said,
were having a better season than
any for many years.
I. H. Kopf of Cincinnati protested
codes in many instances had been
harmful to small business.
Brenckman testified the growth OF
monopoly, the fostering of illegal
combinations for the artificial fixation
of prices, the many and varied re-
strictions placed upon industry" had
all increased the cost of production
and placed industrial commodities
beyond reach Of our agricultural pop
ulation."
Revision Begun.
Working behind the scenes in an
effort to meet the monopoly charges
thrown against NJ r. A. by Senator
Borah, Republican. of Idaho. and
others. Senate administration leaders
have begun to revise the bill for
extending the Blue Eagle machine.
Borah. called into conference by
the administration spokesmen, In
sisted upon three major points. He
demanded full restoration of the anti
trust laws, an affirmative prohibition
against price-fxing and a clear dec
laration that the Government Is not
seeking to interfere with purely intra-
state trade.
Those in charge of the legislation
conceded privately that the admins
tration measure introduced recently
by Chairman Harrison of the Senate
Finance Committee leaned more
heavily toward price fixing than does
even the present law. There was
agreement that it would do little to
restore the antitrust laws. Virtually
all agreed, too, that the measure
would have to be modified in both
respects to obtain congressional
approval.
Wagner Called In.
Harrison and Senator Wagner,
Democrat, of New York, collaborated
yesterday in redrafting the bill and
in negotiating with Borah. At the
same time. Senator McCarran. DEM
ocrat, of Nevada was working on a
measure further to curtail N. Il. AS
powers by putting the entire code
structure on a voluntary basis.
Indications we're that Borah and
the administration representatives
might get together on the elimination
of price, fixing except possibly in such
natural resource industries as coal
and OIL
There was more difficulty, however,
in reaching a compromise on the
other two points in Borah's program.
To Finish Work Soon.
Further conferences between the
conflicting parties was planned for
next week. One of the most impor-
tant code authorities, that for most
of the retail trades, last night came
to the support of N R. A., urging its
continuance for two years.
This code authority is constituted of
nine retail trades associations-variety
stores. mail order houses, music, re-
tail clothiers. two shoe groups, dry
goods, furniture and hardware.
Ali but hardware voted for the
resolution.
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