Evening star., 1936-01-08
A.A. A..

Continued From First Page)
American Farm Bureau Federation,
said the decision would plunge agri-
culture into 'ruinous conditions" un-
less a quick remedy were found, but
Charles w. Burkett, vice president Of
the Farmers Independence Council.
hailed the decision as q blow to "bu-
reaucracy and RECOMMENDATION"
Further expressions Of opinion are
awaited at meeting of 10 farm
leaders, to be convened here the day
after tomorrow by Secretary Wallace
to discuss new agricultural plans.
A. A. A. officials were reported to
be giving increased consideration to a
domestic allotment plan. Under it,
quotas would be assigned each farm.
The quotas would represent the farms
pro rata share Of the amount of
wheat. corn, cotton or other major
crop believed necessary for domestic
consumption.
Excise Tax Possible.
An excise tax-similar in form and
rate to the processing tax-then
might be enacted as a revenue meas
ure. From q general appropriation,
the Government would pay the farm
ers a subsidy on produce grown
for domestic consumption. There
would be no restriction on production
and it would be assumed that the ex-
cess over domestic allotments would
be sold in foreign markets.
Some officials argued A. A. A.
might still have authority to place
such plan in effect at once. Since a
farmer would receive no subsidy on
crops produced in excess Of allotments
it was argued, there would be no
great incentive for overproduction.
However. several high officials. in
Guiding Secretary Wallace and A. A.
A. Administrator Chester c. Davis,
have opposed such a plan without
production control. This was said in
some quarters to be an indication the
domestic allotment might be q last
resort"
Cooperative Cut Proposed.
A new proposal was being considered
today-the organization of commodity
producers cooperative associations for
voluntary production control. Under
this plan, it was explained, growers
of cotton or wheat or corn. might Or
ganize regionally. Voluntary agree
ments would be obtained from asso-
citation members to reduce acreages
when necessary. Then the Govern
ment would make outright grants,
with no strings attached, to the asso-
Citations. The associations presum-
ably would use the grants for benefit
payments.
Such an association, 1t was said,
might prove practicable now for the
South, where the A. A. A. had planned
a SO per cent reduction in cotton
acreage for 1886. Federal restriction
of the crop was believed definitely
out, and some expressions favoring
local crop reduction already were re.
ceived from Southern States.
Mr.. Roosevelt received more than
200 reporters at his regular press
conference yesterday with the usual
announcement that there was mo
news" He ended the conference
with the same declaration.
Cites "MoraI Obligation"
The Presidents only positive asser-
ton in reply to eager questions was
that he felt the Government had
moral obligation to reward farmers
for performance under existing con-
tracts through which they had re-
duced crop acreage.
Asked if he intended to address the
farm conference called by Secretary
Wallace, President Roosevelt replied
he had no plans now to do so.
The President said there was no
news on whether new farm-aid leg
islation was possible under the courts
majority A. A. A. opinion, and that no
decision had been reached on con-
tinuance of the A. A. A. machinery.
Flicking the inevitable cigarette,
Mr.. Roosevelt observed as the ques-
tions kept popping that there were
many problems involved in the situa-
tion and he was taking them up one
at time. The refunding Of process
ing taxes already paid, he said, was
one that he had not considered SO far.
With regard to payment for existing
contracts, Mr.. Roosevelt explained
only one related to 1896 crops-Wln-
ter wheat which was planted last Fall.
These contracts were based on plant
ing 95 per cent of the basic acreage
he said, and therefore payments tney
called for would be small.
Lets Statement Stand.
To q question about his statement
in his annual message to Congress last
Friday night that Congress has the
right and can find the means TO pro-
tect its own prerogatives." Mr.. Roose-
welt said that spoke for itself and was
a recommendation to Congress.
Told some writer's were Interpreting
this as putting a constitutional issue
in the 1885 campaign, the Executive
again fiicked ashes from his cigarette
and declined to comment on interpre-
tations.
Only once did he indicate any irri-
tation. That was when questioner
asked about the future of A. A., A.
personnel, and Mr.. Roosevelt said he
had answered previously that this had
not been considered SO far.
When reporters sgaye their usual
"thank you" when his final mo news"
answer terminated the conference, Mr..