Evening star., 1942-01-13
Roosevelt Sees
Double Threat
In Price Bill
Fears Rising Costs
For Both Labor
And Farmer +
By the Associated Press.

mittee had said earlier as they left
the White House conference that
the President had left them with a
free hand
Well-informed congressional
sources said Mr.. Roosevelt had told
the five Congress members that the
OMahoney amendment written into
the bill on the Senate floor last
waak tying parity prices directly
to the level Of industrial wages was
the most Objectionable action that
body had taken.
Is Pct. Rise Feared.
The Chief Executive was repre-
sented as believing that If that
formula were adopted, the ceilings
on agricultural commodities which
might be imposed would be raised
considerably higher than otherwise.
Then labor would demand higher
wages which. II granted, would raise
the farm ceilings still farther.
Opponents of the OMahoney
amendment said it wouul prohibit
the imposition of ceilings below 120
per cent of parity and might lead
to a IS per cent increase in food
prices.
The President called the meeting
of the House members. 1t was re-
ported. to enlist their support in q
campaign to defeat in a joint Sen
ate-House conference committee
that amendment. as we'll as one by
Senator Bankhead. Democrat. of
Alabama, which would give Secre-
tary of Agriculture Wickard veto
power over any farm price ceilings
that Leon Henderson, price admin
istrator, might set.
One OF the conferees expressed the
opinion that the controversy between
two appointees of the Chief Execu-
tive could be settled more quickly
than the argument over the farm
sections Of the legislation.
Chairman Steagall Of the Banking
Committee said at the White House
that the President recommended
we get the best bill we could, and
we said we would"
Presidents Purposes.
Representative Wolcott. Repub-
hcan, OF Michigan said the President
wanted to help farmers all he could
and yet keep prices within reason
able bounds and not stir up dissen-
sion.
1t was Mr.. Wolcott who said the
Chief Executive had not put the
congressional delegation ION the
spot" and had given it free hand.
The committee members who will
represent the House in trying to
work out a compromise with the
Senate on the price control bill and
who called on Mr.. Roosevelt in addi-
ton to Representatives Steagall and
Wolcott, were Representatives Will
liams, Democrat, of Missouri:
Spence. Democrat. of Kentucky, and
Clifford, Republican, of Massachu-
sets.
Some Senators said that the spir-
tied controversy over control by Sec
retary Wickard and Mr.. Henderson,
might be compromised by a pro-
vision that no farm ceilings could be
set without prior consultation with
Mr.. Wickard.
That middle of-the-road provi-
sion, they said. might satisfy farm
State members as well as President
Roosevelt.
House Provisions.
It also might lead. they said. to
abandonment of the 120 per cent of
parity amendment in favor Of House
provisions which stipulate that no
farm ceiling shall be set below ITO
per cent of parity. the December l
market level or the average prices
from 1919 to 1929.
Meanwhile, administration lieu
tenants also were seeking Senate
House compromises on daylight saw
ing time, appropriations for civilian
defense and for defense housing.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
expressed belief that on the first
question there would be little diff
ficulty. The Senate bill would give
the President discretion to advance
the clocks as much as two hours In
defense areas to conserve electrical
energy. The House bill would make
daylight saving time OF an hour
universal
The Senate passed a bill giving
Fiorello H. La Guardia, civilian de-
fense director, an unlimited author
ization to spend money, but the
House transferred control of the
program to the War Department
and put a 500, 900 900 limit on the
authorized expenditures.
Conferees also are seeking agree
ment of authorizations for q $780,
600 900 appropriation for defense
housing and $50, ,000, 900 for COM
munity facilities.
Hoover Urged as Price Chief.
Despite such unsettled questions,
however . the No. l legislative sub
ject remained the price control bill
And not all Of the legislators agreed
that Mr.. Henderson should be con-
tinued as price administrator under
the new legislation.
House Minority Leader Martin
declared in a radio address last
night that appointment of former
President Hoover to head the price
control agency would give the Ma
ton greater confidence than those
who now exercise that control"
Mr.. Martin, who also Is chairman
Of the Republican National Commit
tee. made the suggestion in the
Washington Star Radio Forum,
broadcast over the Blue network.
He declared the President might
do well to avail himself" of the tai
ents of q number Of Republicans
and anti New Deal Democrats in ad-
ministrative posts. Among those, he
named wendell Willkie, ALI M. Lam
don, Alfred E. Smith. Thomas Z.