Evening star., 1940-02-01
Farm Bloc Sees
Defeat in Fight
For More Funds
House Group Plans,
However, to Bottle
For Major Items
BACKGROUND

For economys sake, President
Rooseuelt's budget message omit
ted request for farm parity pay
ments. House Appropriations
Committee Uent still further, cut
his request for 8S,929,519 funds
for the farm, program by 1884,
430,263. Problem is ho1D to please
farmers IN election year Without
displeasing tDhole populace by
raising tares. Parity payments
are an integral part OF Secretary
Wallace's theories of government
tai aid to ngriculture-prouiding
income equivalent to that OF
1904.
By the Associated Press.
House members from farm States
decided today to put up battle for
several major items dropped from
next years farm appropriation bill,
but they agreed their efforts prob
ably were doomed to defeat.
The last-ditch stand for a full
schedule of farm expenditures for
next year is expected to be made in
the Senate after the House has
passed the bill late today or tomor-
row.
Representative Ferguson, Demo-
crat, of Oklahoma, sponsor Of to-
days strategy meeting, said the
group would support an amendment
by Representative Pace, Democrat,
of Georgia for restoration of the
single largest item cut out of the bill
by the House Appropriations Com
mittee-S72, ,678.812 to supplement
other appropriations for surplus
crop disposal.
There were numerous express
sions, however, to the effect that this
move was certain of defeat because
of the parliamentary situation in the
House.
Want $4,000, 900 Restored.
The Appropriation Committee
knocked the fund out Of the bill on
the ground that Congress had not
previously authorized that expendi-
ture. Fiscal authorities claimed that
on that technicality they could block
an effort to restore it.
The group, composed of more than
40 members from % States, also
agreed to attempt to reinstate other
items totaling about $4,000 900,
mostly for farm tenant loans and
benefit payments to sugar growers.
Chairman Jones of the House Ag-
riculture Committee said the "tem-
per of that House" was such that
an effort to add $225, 600 900 for farm
parity payments would be futile.
The Appropriations Committee
Tuesday approved a bill carrying
total of $634,374, ,756, compared with
the current appropriation Of 81 SOL
340, ,315, and with budget estimates Of
S788, ,929, ,519. SH.s
Fight for Parity Payments.
Meanwhile, Chairman Smith Of
the Senate Agriculture Committee
told reporters he would make Wig
orous fight to have parity payments
written into the Agriculture Depart
ment appropriation bill.
This administration has asked
farmers to curtail their acreage" he
said, land has promised them parity
(pre-1914) prices in return. 1t is
legally and morally bound to give
them parity"
Senator Russell, Democrat, Of
Georgia termed the action of the
House Appropriations Committee in
slashing the farm measure to 1884,
374,756 as "atrocious and unpardon-
able"
They eliminated items which
they know will have to be restored
in order to dump the responsibility
on the Senate and clothe them
selves with the elf-righteous robes
of economy" Senator Russell said.
Wallace Hits Action.
Secretary Wallace yesterday as
sailed the House Committee action
with a statement that the proposed
S154, ,O00,0 900 reduction under budget
estimates would inflict "a grave in
Justice on farmers and would
impair industrial activity and en-
ployment.
Although telling reporters he did
not wish to criticize efforts toward
economy, Secretary Wallace said
that an interesting" political is
sue would be raised unless the cuts
were restored.
Il want to put the farmer on
guard against attempts of some
congressman to scuttle the farm
program" he said.
II would ask the farmers this
question when they went to vote,
Which way are you most likely to
be taken care of in 1941?'"
The House listened yesterday to
pleas of farm leaders for restora-
ton of funds deleted by the COM
mittee. Leading the drive, Chair
man Jones of the Agriculture
Committee contended the tariff has
unbalanced the relationship be-
tween industry and agriculture and
that it is necessary "for some sort
of action to be taken to bring back
the balance"
Representative Taber. Republican
of New York told Mr.. Jones that
unless the budget is balanced, I'VE
are going to bring down upon agri-
culture and the rest of the country
complete wreckage."
The Senate arranged to act on the
$57.5 SAL 300 deficiency bill, already
trimmed about 100000 under
budget estimates by the House and
the Senate Appropriations Commit
tee.
i Gordon Graduation