Evening star., 1942-01-30
Roosevelt Siqns
.PriceBi|I;C
lis Dangers
Says Henderson
Will Continue
As Administrator
(Tert of Price Bill Message on
Page ABB

0H0 h-3oI
By the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt signed the
price-control bill today and told
reporters 1t was good in many
respects, but that provisions ap-
plying to farm prices offered a
danger.
1T does not mean that the bat
tie against imitation has been
won," he added, in a formal
statement on the bill issued
shortly after he talked to re-
porters.
These provisions, he said, pro-
vide real danger in that no farm
price could be stabilized below 110
per cent of parity.
For eight years, he said, the ad-
ministration has sought to work
toward parity prices for farmers
and the bill, he added, represents a
very definite violation of that OBJ
jective.
The measure, with the farm pro-
visions, he said, provides a threat
to the cost Of living.
Best Obtainable at Time.
Nevertheless, he said, the bill Is
certainly worth having and Is the
best that could be obtained at this
time.
The Chief Executive asserted that
undoubtedly the toes of a great
many people must be stepped on in
administering it.
He said he hoped that the admin
istration of the bill would be vigor-
GUS and suggested that later on gaps
in the legislation could be filled in
and if necessary, amendments re-
quested.
If need be, he said. Congress will
be asked to correct the ITO per cent
Of parity sections.
Leon Henderson, the price admin
istrator, sat behind the President
and when Mr.. Roosevelt was asked
who would be appointed administra-
tor under the bill, he tossed his head
at Mr. Henderson and replied in
Latin, "ecce homo" or behold the
man.
Not BY Legislation Alone.
In his formal statement the Pres
ident declared that price-control
legislation alone cannot success
| fully combat infiation.'
ITO do that" he asserted, IAN ade-
quate tax and fiscal program.
broad savings program, a sound pro-
duction program and an effective
priorities and rationing program are
all needed.
FINALLY. all bulwarks against in
f1ation must fail, unless all Of US.
the business man, the worker, the
farmer and the consumer-are de-
termined to make those bulwarks
hold fast. In the last analysis, as
Woodrow Wilson said, The best
form of efficiency is the spontaneous
cooperation of free people"
Mr.. Roosevelt described the new
act as IAN important weapon in
our armory against the onslaught
of the Axis powers"
Few farm products have reached
price ceilings of 110 per cent Of
parity authorized by the law. An
Agriculture Department report on
prices received by farmers in mid
January indicated that only rice,
beef, cattle, veal calves, wool, pea
nuts and soybeans for vegetable oil
production, had reached the min
imum ceiling level.
Minimum Ceilings.
The approximate minimum cell.
ings and the January Is farm prices,
respectively, of principal com.
modities included:
Cotton, Plat and 1898 cents a
pound; cotton seed, s5O36 and $43.24
ton; wheat. SLAP and $1.O6 a
bushel; corn, s103 and 72.7 cents a
bushel; oats, 64 and so cents q
bushel; barley, 994 and 6OS cents
a bushel; rice. 81 143e and s1576 a
bushel; rye, $l.l56 and IS cents a
bushel; fax seed, $27l and s195 a
bushel; potatoes, 81 "a and 97.6 cents
bushel; sweet potatoes, $141 and
SO cents a bushel.
Hay, $1906 and $10.15 a ton;
apples, $154 and $116 a bushel:
hogs, $11.59 and $10.55 per 100
pounds; beef cattle, SO 38 and $977
per 100 pounds; veal calves, $1122
and s1214 per 100 pounds; lambs.
SLIP and 5000 per 100 pounds;
butter fat, AS and 1868 cents q
pound; eggs, 1927 and 31.3 cents a
dozen: wool, 37.1 and 372 cents a
(See PRICE CONTROL, Page A-6O