Evening star., 1940-03-20
Vote on Farm Bill
Delayed in Senate
By Amendments
BiIIion-D Dollar Measure
Due to Pass Tomorrow:
Above Budget Figure
BY the Associated Press.

by nightfall diminished today when
several Senators indicated they
would speak extensively on amend
ments.
Leaders predicted, however, that
the big appropriation measure, car
rying $20l ,940,049 more than Presi-
dent Roosevelts budget estimates,
would pass tomorrow In substan-
TALLY the form suggested by the
Senate Appropriations Committee.
Before final vote the chamber
had to act on proposal by Senators
Lee, Democrat, of Oklahoma and
Bilbo, Democrat, of Mississippi to
increase a proposed $212 900 900
fund for parity payments to $607,-
100000. The payments would be
designed to give farmers the same
purchasing power they had in
19O9-1914.
On the Senate floor Senator Aus
tin, Republican, of Vermont criti-
clzed the Budget Bureau for
reducing to $2,4OO,OO0 a research
fund allotted annually to land grant
colleges.
Research Funds Urged.
Senator Austin said the budget
estimate failed to include about
100000 previously appropriated for
the research, but not yet spent. The
payments, he said, constituted a
Federal obligation to the States.
Il hope Senator Austin added,
that future Presidents will give
proper regard to the Federal Gov
ernment's obligations to States
LaSt-mlnute pressure by civic Or
carnations to expand the Govern
ment,s food stamp system threat
ened, meanwhile, to push congress
sional economy plans further out of
kilter.
A growing demand for an
additional S28,000,000 to finance dis
tribution of food to needy families
through the stamp plan was report
ed. 1t now operates in about so
cities, but applications have come
in from 700 others.
Competition" Among Cities.
Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of
South Carolina said that sentiment
for this increase apparently had
been built up by competition" be-
tween chambers of commerce and
other civic organizations to win
designation as food stamp dis
trlbution center.
Under the system, families on re-
lief are given Government stamps
to obtain certain surplus products
from their grocery. The Govern
ment buys back the stamps from
the grocer with funds appropriated
for disposal of farm surpluses.
The Senate Appropriations Com
mittee voted S85,OOO,OOO for that
purpose and for export subsidies.
but Senator La Toilette, Progressive,
of Wisconsin proposed an increase
to s113.OOO0O0.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia cautioned the Senate against
greatly increased appropriations
Yesterday, lest the Treasury's sup
ply of cash be reduced to an i'm
prudent level, or it become neces-
sary to increase the legal limit on
the national debt.
Adequate Balance Urged.
Administration leaders, including
Majority Leader Barkley and Sen
ator Byrnes. had contended that
the farm bill increase over budget
figures could be safely taken from
the $1,600000000 of cash now in
the Treasury's working balance.
Senator Byrd called their attention
to other factors involved
He said that to avoid an in
crease in the debt limit, the budget
submitted in January by President
Roosevelt involved reducing that
balance to $500000,000 as part of
the Governments regular fiscal
plans for the year beginning next
July.
, Il simply rise, Mr.. President"
Senator Byrd said, ito make clear
in the record that under the budget
as now presented to Congress, the
working balance will be reduced to
an amount as low as this Govern
ment could safely operate on.
Capper Pleads for Farm Amity.
Gas the Senator from Kentucky,
Mr.. Barkley, said yesterday, an ade-
quate balance should at all times be
in the Treasury of the
Government so as to meet all obliga-
tlons coming due and any further
reduction in this working balance
would not be in conformance with
prudent fiscal operations"
Senator Capper, Republican, of
Kansas declared last night in radio
speech that business, labor and agri-
culture must quit fighting one an
other if the country is to solve the
farm and unemployment problems
and escape rigid RECOMMENDATION by
Government.
The Kansan said the New Deal
had failed to solve the problem of
low farm income, adding that this
was demonstrated by the fact that
Federal subsidies running close to
$1,000,0 100000 had left the farmer
still underpaid by at least a like
amount.