Evening star., 1942-09-22
Senate Farm Group
Pushes Fight 10 Raise
Parity Prices in Bill
Close Vote Is Predicted,
But BurkIey Says Move
Will Be Defeated

But BurkIey Says Move
Will Be Defeated
BY the Associated Press.
A resurgent farm bloc fought
a nip and tuck battle with ad-
ministration forces today in it's
effort to inject a new and higher
basis for agricultural parity
prices into the anti-inflation bill.
Although Democratic Leader
Barkley and others remained conf
dent they could defeat a proposed
upward revision of 46 per cent, the
Senate was reported SO evenly di-
vided on the parity question that a
handful of votes might decide the
issue.
1T looks all right" Senator Bark
ley told reporters before the Senate
began its second day Of debate on
the measure, the House, q day be-
hind, arranged for general discus
sion of the bill today with amend
ments coming up for vote tomor-
row. z
CParity is q price standard which,
when reached, is calculated to equal
lie the return the farmer receives
for what he sells with the prices of
the things. hA buys. In the past, It
has been used as the basis for max
ing Government loans and as a goal
for fair return to the farmer.
Vital Issue In Bill.
It has assumed paramount impor-
ance now because, under terms Of
the pending bill, 1t would become
the lowest point at which price CELL
ings could be placed on farm prod
ucts by President Roosevelt In car
rying out the prospective congress
sional directive to stabilize prices,
wages and salaries.)
Despite the Presidents assertion
that he was "unalterably opposed
to any change in the basis Of COM
putting parity, Senators Hatch, Dem
ocrat of New Mexico and Thomas
Democrat, OF Oklahoma, submitted
amendments which would include
farm labor costs for the first time in
| computing parity.
This would boost the parity base
46 per cent on the average, raising
the lowest point Of farm price CELL
ings under the new bill a like
amount.
Farm State Senator'S indicated
dissatisfaction, meanwhile, with q
provision approved by the Banking
Committee which would permit the
President to take into account IN
creased labor costs in adjusting the
maximum price ceilings on agricul-
tural commodities.
Senator Brown, Democrat, oi
Michigan, floor manager for the
measure. said this was as far as the
administration was prepared to e
in concessions to the farm demands
and other Senators agreed privately
that there was little chance OF OBJ.
tanning an acceptable compromise
between the two positions.
Amendments Approved.
The Senate heard opposition ex'
pressed yesterday by Senator'S John
son, Republican, of California ant
O'Daniel, Democrat, of Texas to tn,
proposed broad grant of power
to the President, but proceeds
methodically to adopt Banking
Committee amendments on virtuall
unanimous voice votes.
One amendment thus tentativel
approved would authorize and direc
the President to act on or befor
November to stabilize prices, wage
and salaries so far as practicable O.
; the basis of levels which existed O
September Is.
!, Senator Vandenberg, Republican
Of Michigan succeeded in amend
, ing another section to make it plai
!, lethat II subsequent adjustments wer
: made by the President they mus
. be made not only to correct ir
:, equities but because they were nec
essary to aid in the effective prose
6 cution Of the war.
= To eliminate a possibility ths
liASii odluii llA6iAe 4ioLCIl
the September Is levels, the Sena
: adopted an amendment by Senat.
= Overton, Democrat, of Louisiar
!, permitting employers to reduce sa
~ aries of 5000 year or more.
they chose. without first obtainir
the Presidents consent.
Despite the opposition, leade
hoped for final congressional actie
on the bill before October !, dea'
line laid down by the Presider
The measure, generally speakin
calls for stabilization of pay al
is prices around the September
ID level Farm price ceilings, howeve
n. could not be established below pa
n ity levels or below recent mark
prices, whichever were higher.
Other Changes Proposed.
IS Senator Langer, Republican,
North Dakota introduced an amen
10 ment yesterday requiring the Pre-
dent to submit q detailed plan