Evening star., 1942-01-16
Two Farm Leaders
Protest Price Bill
Passed by Senate
Measure Seeks Increases
Agriculture Groups Have
Never Asked, They Soy


BY the Associated Press.
The White House said today that
two farm leaders had told President
Roosevelt that the great majority
of farmers we're placed in a false
light before the public" by the price
control bill passed by the Senate.
A telegram from James g. Patton,
president of the National Farmers
Union, and M. w. Thatcher. presi-
dent of the National Federation OF
Grain Co-operatives, asserted. the
White House said, that the measure
sought price increases which the
farmers had never asked for.
patriotic and unself1sh farmers
do not now seek personal gain
through unfairly high prices to the
disadvantage of national defense
and the public" the telegram said'
The Senate measure, as amended
critics contend, would permit farm
prices to go to 100 per cent of parity
before a ceiling could be clamped
down, amounting to a 70 per cent
increase in food costs.
Protest Follows O'Neal Letter.
The letter from the two farm or
ranizations followed letter written
to Senator Brown, Democrat, OF
Michigan. floor leader for the ad-
ministration bill, by Edward A.
ONeal. president of the American
Farm Bureau Federation. Mr.. O'Neal
scored the OMahoney farm prices
amendment. He urged retention in
the bill only of the two floors ap-
proved by the administration.
Labor joined the farm groups in
an American Federation of Labor
Executive Council resolution adopted
at a meeting here yesterday. The
action supported the administration S
view of the farm price provisions
and went on to urge:
That Congress eliminate the pro-
vision in the Senate bill directing
all Federal agencies dealing with Ia
Dor to make it their policy to stabl-
lie prices and production costs.
while this bill fatty declares that
no Government agency may regulate
wages, we anticipate that some form
of regula ton may be attempted un-
der cover of the objectional policy
provision
Rent Ceiling Proposed.
Meanwhile, a wartime ceiling on
rents in defense areas was written
into the bill by Senate-H House COM
mittee attempting to compromise
between widely different measures
approved by the two chambers.
The rent ceiling would apply to
any areas where defense activities
have resulted or threaten to result
in an increase in rents for housing
accommodations inconsistent with
the purpose OF this act
The lawmakers explained that
local and State authorities would be
given first opportunity to put lid
on rents (as has been done in the
District of Columbia but that Fed
eral price officials would have power
to step in if they thought necessary.
Rents on or about last April were
designated as the standard for
regulations.
Farm Price Issue Deferred.
Both Senator Brown and Chair
man Steagall Of the House conferees
said they were trying to make minor
adjustments before tackling pro-
visions which would grant special
concessions to farmers.
Among the provisions already ap-
proved was one by Senator George.
Democrat, of Georgia, which would
require price fixing officials to ap-
point a national industry advis-
ory committee with regional units
if necessary whenever a substantial
portion of any industry subject to
price maxtmums requested this
action.
This advisory group would coop
crate with price fixing officials on
text Of orders, regulations and en-
forcement.
The conference group also ap-
proved a business practices" section
which sponsors said would assure
exemption of advertising methods
and similar practices from the far
reaching powers of the price admin
istrator.
October to Is Period Avoided.
The provision specified that pow
ers granted under the wartime mea-
sure should mot be used or made
to operate to compel changes In the
business practices or cost practices
or methods, means or aid to distri-
button established in any industry,
except to prevent circumvention or
evasion of any ceiling established
under this act"
Senator Brown said the confer
ence group had avoided accepting
the period of October to Is last
as a general standard for price con-
troll because this was linked directly
to the dispute over farm price levels
II l.