Evening star., 1939-03-23
House Unit Rejects
Presidents S Request
To Cut Farm Benefits
Committee Urges
$3.50, ,000,0 900 Fund
lnsteod Of 30% Slash
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press.
The House Appropriations Com
mittee, rejecting President Roose-
velts request to cut farm benefit
payments 80 per cent, asked Con-
gress today to appropriate s750,00O,- :
600 to promote agricultural recovery
essential to the complete restora-
ton Of our national economy"
The committee sent to the House
floor for a bill calling for $l,067,-
274,427 appropriation for all Agri-
culture Department activities in the
year beginning July /. The total was
$244 ,598,376 more than the Presi-
dent and the Budget Bureau asked,
and $ll3, ,l09, ,148 more than regular
appropriations last year.
The bill called for $500 900 900 for
SOIL conservation payments under
the administrations farm program
SIS ,000, 900 more than the Presidents
budget called fo--and $25O, 900 900
for farm parity benefits which the
budget did not recommend. Congress
earmarked $212 ,0O0, 900 in a relief bill
last year for parity payments
The committee, in its report on the
bill, noted that the President had
not requested any parity payments,
but 1t said they should be made ua-
der the clearly indicated policy" of
the last Congress.
Roosevelt Asked Revenue.
Mr.. Roosevelt has said no appro-
priations above $485, 900 900 should
be made for the farm program un-
less Congress at the same time leg
islates offsetting revenue.
The appropriation of Congress
last year Of $4,000, 900 for parity
payments. clearly indicated the leg
islative policy with respect to carry
ing out the new Agricultural Adjust
ment Act" the committee said. THE
committee believes its duty is clear
to provide in this bill the funds nee
essary for a continuation of that
policy.
The budget, as submitted by the
President, would provide a total Of
$485 ,0OO,O 900 for farm payments. or
reduction under the current year
OF more than 80 per cent.
The committee believes such a
reduction would be a blow to the
agricultural recovery which is
deemed to be essential to the COM
plete restoration of our national
economy as a whole"
Although the committee carried
forward the parity payment policy
set forth in last years recovery pro-
gram, it made no provision for spe-
c1al loans, relief and rural rehabil-
1tation. Congress voted SITE, 900 900
1or the latter purpose last year.
Roads Fund Cut.
The committee slashed $4,000, 900
from the Budget Bureaus request
Tor $201 100000 for the Bureau of
Public Roads, saying the roads
agency could get along with $40,-
100000 for grade-crossing elmina-
ton, rather than $50, 900 900.
Because Of new crop production
and harvesting loans, the committee
Jumped last years appropriation for
the Farm Credit Administration
from $3,750, 900 to $14,850,OOO.
The Weather Bureaus request for
additional funds to go on 24-hour
basis and turn out four weather
maps instead of two was approved.
Committee hearings released when
the bill was introduced showed Sec
retary Wallace had said that until
unemployment was reduced, agricul-
ture was going to be lin pretty weak
shape"
Surveying the future of agricul-
ture in the United States, Mr.. WAL
lace told q subcommittee:
About half of the farm problem
(see AGRICULTURE, Page A-4)