The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-07
PAY FOR AAA
EMPLOYEES
INDOUBT
International News Service

halt today as Secretary of Agri-
culture Wallace, Administrator
Chester, c. Davis and other AAA
officials held q series of hurried
conferences to figure out what to
do as a result of the Supreme
Courts knockout blow admins
tered yesterday.
Neither from Secretary Wal
lace nor Administrator Davis was
O word forthcoming as all rental
and benefit payment checks to
farmers participating in the AAA
n-control program we're
held up.
Employees at Desks
While no official orders to halt
collection of processing taxes had
been issued, an AAA spokesman
said:
''What court would order pay.
ment Of the taxes, and who
would pay them, in view Of the
decisiOn?"
AAA employees we're at their
places-the $500 in Washington
and the 800 field agents and
others outside the Capital-but
with nothing to do but clean up
routine matters. Whether they
still are on the pay roll or not,
none could say.
The Treasury Department, how
ever, had issued orders stopping
pay checks of all AAA employees.
The next payday is January Is.
Neither was any official word
forthcoming as to what would be
done concerning outstanding con-
tracts with farmers participating
IN the corn-hog, cotton. peanut,
rice, sugar beet and sugar cane,
wheat and tobacco programs.
Winter Wheat Contracts
Only on contracts for winter
wheat, which already has been
planted, has any obligation been
incurred, however, officials
pointed out. 1t was doubtful,
they said, if any further move
would be made on the other con-
tracts.
On winter wheat, however, off.
Gals estimated that the contracts
call for the Government to pay
$50. 000, 900 to approximately $780,
900 farmers participating in the
program.
Senator John H. Bankhead 3D.
Of Alabama and Representative
Marvin Jones CD of Texas, Ad-
ministration leaders on agricul-
tural legislation, assured Admin
istrator Davis, however, following
o White House conference late
yesterday, that they would intro
duce measures Immediately for ap-
propriationS to pay the AAA obi
cations incurred under the 1885
program.
Obligations Put at 217 Millions
AAA officials placed these obi
cations, in addition to the winters
wheat program, at SPIT $50, 34S, as
Of January 6, as balances due on
the following crops:
Corn-hogs, $106, 1886 ,055; cotton,
$12,681, 100; wheat, SIS 1889 1902;
tobacco, $5,620,665; sugar. $685.
OO0, 900; peanuts, $1,153,534; rice,
$520,112.
Prior to yesterday, payments
on the 1885 program had totaled
1924, 229, 7S9, making the total pay.
mentS and obligations for the
year, exclusive of the $66. 1000 900
on winter wheat. $541,420.137.
Since it's inception. the AAA has
paid out a total of 1925, ASS, TIT in
rental and benefit payments, with
contracts outstanding. or submit.
ted to producers, calling for $685.
OO0, 900 more. OF the latter, how
ever, it was said that probably
only the $283, 25O, 348 already due
on 1885 contracts and the winter
wheat program would be binding.
Referendum Results Cited
In casting about to determine
what course to pursue, AAA Off
Gals pointed out the results Of
their referendum elections held
among farmers last year on con-
tinuation of the programs as
strongly indicative of the farm
support of the AAA.
In eight referendum votes taken
during the year, on the corn-hog,
cotton, wheat, tobacco. peanut
and other programs, a total of
4,165 1913 farmers voted, 3,658,845,
or SO per cent, favorably.
AS some farmers participate in
more than one program, hence
vote at more than one referendum.
the 4,165, 633 votes cast does not
necessarily represent a majority
of the 6,812,090 listed farmers of
the United States, AAA officials
said.
They contend, however, that pro-
ducers participating in the pro
grams represent a vast majority
Of the total production than
80 per cent in cotton, IS per cent
on wheat, and SO per cent on corn
hogs, according to the AAA re-
ports.
Officials also declined to discuss
the status Of the AAA cotton pool,
which holds 100000 bales Of cot
ton futures and 100000 bales Of
spot cotton, or of the cotton loans
on 4,450,000 bales, at IL cents a
pound.