Evening star., 1940-03-08

The Senate Finance Committee
voted, IL to 8. today to approve,
without amendment, the House-ap-
proved legislation to continue the
administrations trade agreements
program three years beyond next
June IL.
The committees approval cleared
the way for Senate consideration
next week of the controversial meas
ure to renew the State Departments
expiring authority to make trade
pacts, in which tariff concessions
would be extended not only to the
nation signing the agreement, but to
all others not discriminating against
American exports.
This is one Of two key issues i'm
mediately before Congress. The
other is whether to add a quarter
billion dollars to farm funds.
The Finance Committee rejected
six amendments, many of which
some Senators said would have
"scuttled" the program Chief Of
these was one by Senator Pittnan,
Democrat, of Nevada, to require
Senate ratification of all future
agreements. Chairman Harrison
said the vote was II to against
this proposal.
The Roll Call.
The vote to approve the legisla.
ton and send it to the floor for de-
bate follows:
For the bill: Senators Harrison,
George of Georgia, Walsh of Massa.
chusetts, Barkley of Kentucky, Con-
nally Of Texas, Bailey of North
Carolina, Clark of Missouri, Byrd
of Virginia, Guffey of Pennsylvania,
Brown of Michigan, Herring of
Iowa and Radcliffe of Maryland, all
Democrats.
Against the bill: Senators Gerry
of Rhode Island and johnson Of
Colorado, Democrats; La Toilette.
Progressive, Wisconsin. and Capper
of Kansas, Vandenberg Of Michigan,
Townsend of Delaware, Davis Of
Pennsylvania and Lodge Of Massa.
chusetts, Republicans. King, Demo
CIdt, OtdIl, WAS dUSeIlt.
Senator Connally voted "aye" on
the Pittman amendment, making
the only change from the roll call
on the final vote of approval.
Talk Of Billion Dollar Bill.
Vying for congressional attention
with action on this major recon-
mendation Of Mr.. Roosevelt was a
rising clamor for a big increase in
the farm payments he proposed.
The House trimmed the Presi-
dents budget estimates for tho
Agriculture Department from $685.
a29,519 to $713,896 084. But farm
State Senators talked of a billion
dollar bill through additions of from
5000 900 900 to $300000,OO0.
The Appropriations Subcommittee
in charge of the annual agricultural
supply bill scheduled final action on
this economy VS.. spending milestone
today, with sentiment apparently in
favor of the increase.
Wants Parity Item"
Chairman Russell of the subcom-
mittee, said he would insist that the
committee include an item for par
ity" payments to farmers. Some
committee members said this might
total from 5000, 1000, 900 to $225, ,0O0,-,
600, with an additional $4,000, ,000i
to $85,000, 900 for export subsidies
and disposal of surpluses, as we'll ass
$25, 900 900 for a farm tenancy pro-
gram.
Of these increases should be
approved by the Senate and then
by the House. substantially all the
savings thus far made by Con-
gress in an effort to avoid both
new taxes and an increase in the
statutory debt limit, would be
wiped out)
Administration leaders agreed that
If the subcommittee and then the
full Appropriations Committee whip
the farm bill into shape over the
week end, they would lay aside the
trade agreements legislation in the
Senate Monday to consider it.
This understanding was reached
on the assumption that the Senate
would vote today on the Hatch till
extension proposal.
In the Senate Finance Commit.
tee voting on the trade pact bill,
an amendment by Senator OMa.
honey, Democrat. OF Wyoming, to
require that the agreements be ap-
proved by both houses, was defeated
by IL to 8.
The committee rejected, 10 to T.,