Evening star., 1939-05-07
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

atives of the two houses. There has
been increasing indication that Con-
gress would prefer to get for the
farmers the so-called parity pay
ments and appropriations for caring
for surpluses as a substitute for the
Frazier-Lemke "cost of production"
farm bill or any other proposed
legislative remedy.
Provides Cash Subsidy.
The parity price payment. which
is authorized under existing law but
for which the President made no
estimate in his annual budget pre-
sented last January, seeks as nearly
as possible to give the farmers the
same value for their products, in
terms of the value Of industrial
products, as during the period 1907
1914. The plan would provide cash
subsidy covering the difference be-
tween what the farmers actually
receive for Their crops and IS per
cent of the parity price established.
The plan covers only five staple
crops, however, wheat, cotton, corn,
tobacco and rice. Tobacco and rice,
it is said, would probably not be af-
fected, since the prices for those
crops Is already up to parity" and
the corn situation this year is i'm
proving.
The plan to purchase surpluses of
all kinds of crops, also under exist
ing law, has much support, particu-
larly among senators representing
states with large dairy interests.
The two plans, parity price payments
and surplus purchases, were workde
into the appropriation by joint ef-
fort Of their supporters.
These increased appropriations for
the farmers-the bill as reported to
the Senate carries $l,216,528,572 for
agriculture-are defended by their
sponsors on the ground that the
farmers need help, and that If hun
dreds Of millions of dollars are to
be added for national defense arma-
ments, certainly the farmer should
have his share Of the spending.
All Woo Farm Vote.
With an election in the ofiing
next year the farm vote already is
being wooed by members of Con-
gress who must come up for re-elec-
ton, whether they be Republicans
or Democrats. The farmer, 1t is
argued, is not the proper man on
whom to economic. There will,
however, be a division in the ranks
of both parties in the Senate over
these increased appropriations for
agriculture. Not all Democrats nor
all Republicans will support them.
Generally speaking, the Senators
from the farm States will go for
them, hook, line and sinker. The
Senators representing industrial
States may turn against the in
creases.
There Is the chance, however, that
the question Of relief appropriations
may yet become involved in this
problem Of aid for the farmers. II
the Senators and Representatives
hailing from States with large in
dustrial centers are not satisfied
with the size Of the relief appropria-
tions, they may throw a monkey
wrench into the plans Of the agri-
culturists. On the other hand, both
groups may work together for large
appropriations for agriculture and
for relief.
In Tough Spot.
Senators who have preached econ
omy, some Of them at least, may be
in q tough spot when the increased
agricultural appropriations are be-
fore them for a vote. The Repub-
lican party has been demanding
curtailment Of Federal expenditures.
But 1t is clear that the Republicans
in Congress are anxious not to have
the farmers Of the country believe
the G. o. p. is antagonistic to them
or to Government aid for them. The
chances are that while several Re-
publican Senators will oppose the
increases now proposed in the ap-
preparation bill, the majority OF
them will support the amendments
The Senate had planned to take
up for consideration the Florida
ship canal bill tomorrow. The alb
sence Of Senator Andrews, Demo-
crat, Of Florida, q supporter Of the
bill, due to q death in his family,
may cause a change In plan and
bring the agricultural appropriation
bill before the Senate first. In that
event the ship canal bill will in all
probability follow the appropriation
bill.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, Of
Florida. who also strongly supports
the plan for the construction Of the
ship canal, insists that It win lbe
approved BY the Senate.