Evening star., 1942-01-20
Price Conferees
Agree 10 Boost
Administrator S Paw
House and Senute Groups
Fail to Agree on Other
Disputed Provisions
BY the Associated Press.


other controversial features Of the
wartime price control legislation.
Chairman Brown Of the Senate
conferees told reporters that the
House conferees had receded from
their provision that the salary be
$4,000.
I'VE agreed to raise Mr.. Hender-
sons salary and talked over the
buying and selling provisions" Sen
ator Brown said. Leon Henderson.
now controlling prices under a presi-
dental order. told Congress he ex-
pected to be reappointed to any
price e-fixing job authorized by the
legislation. He now receives a $l0,-
600 salary
Senate Democratic Leader Barkley
told reporters that the price-control
dispute had been discussed at a
White House conference of congress
sional leaders, adding that he ex-
pected the Senate-House committee
would be able to get together" on a
compromise, although it was uncer-
tain when this would be.
Difficulties Were Discussed.
II discussed some of the difficulties
that faced the Conference Com
mittee," Senator Barkley said of the
visit with President Roosevelt.
Senator Browns reference to the
"buying and selling" provisions was
authority to buy, store or sell various
commodities in an effort to control
their prices. Both the House and
Senate approved these activities with
certain restrictions.
It was indicated a compromise
might be near on the highly con-
troversial farm sections.
With leaders reported to have sug-
gested that President Roosevelt be
given the final decision on agricul-
ture prices, members said that horse
trading apparently was under way
for the first time since the group
began its discussions last week.
The presidential check was said to
have been proposed in an effort to
compromise Senate approved
amendment by Senator Bankhead,
Democrat, of Alabama, which would
empower the Secretary of Agricul-
ture to veto any ceilings that might
be placed on farm prices by the ad-
ministrator proposed in the bill.
Bankhead Opposes Plan.
1t was suggested instead, in
formed sources said, that the ad-
ministrator be allowed to fix the
price. If the Agriculture Secretary
found fault with the stipulated fig
ure he could refer the matter to the
President for a final decision.
1t was evident, however, that
Senator Bankhead had no relish for
such a proposal. He told reporters
he was confident his amendment
would remain in the bill as the
Senate approved it and he claimed
almost unanimous backing by farm
organizations. The President pre-
viously had opposed the suggested
dual controls over farm prices.
An amendment by Senator O'Mah-
oney, Democrat, of Wyoming, to aid
farm prices, seemed to have lost
ground in the discussions. This pro-
vision, which would link farm prices
to industrial wages, was strongly
opposed by the President, who
argued it would cause the spiraling
of all prices.
May Gain One Point.
Most conferees seemed to think,
however, that Senator O,Mahoney
would gain one point-the inclusion
of last December Is, as well as Oc-
tober l, as a date to be reckoned
with in fixing farm ceilings.
The House and Senate marked
time with miscellaneous bills await
ing conclusion of the conference.
The House Appropriations Commit
tee went to work on President
Roosevelt's request for $28, 900 ,00O,-
600 for the Army and Navy, with
leaders predicting that the huge
wartime supply bill would be ready
In short order.
As wartime legislation was pushed
yesterday a bill granting President
Roosevelt power to take over wire
communication facilities won final
congressional approval.
Assurance that no plan for Gov
eminent operation of the telephone
and telegraph systems as a whole
was under consideration had been
given by Chairman Wheeler of the
Senate Interstate Commerce Com
mittee in response to questions by
Senators Taft, Republican. of Ohio;
Vandenberg, Republican, of Michi-
gan, and others.
Contending that power to take
over wire communications was
needed for any possible emergency
Senator Wheeler told his colleagues
that "as one who opposed our en-
try into war until we were attacked
I am prepared to say that we've got
to give the President the power tc
carry on the war successfully"
Powers granted by the bill are es-
sentially the same as those which
the President now has over radio
facilities, permitting him to regu-
late them, shut them down or take
them over for Government use.
O. C. d. Funds Voted.
A $10O,0OO,000 civilian defense au.
thorization also won final congress
sional approval yesterday after
House Republicans lost a last-ditct
fight to keep it out of the hands OF
Fiorello La Guardia, civilian defense
director
The House refused, 172 to 167, te
send the bill back to House Senate
conference committee and then ap-
proved the measure, 1874 to 2. Senate
approval quickly followed on a voice
vote.
The conference committee agreed
give administration of the fund to
Mayor La Guardia's agency and tc
limit it to 100000 900.
Chairman Vinson of the House
Naval Affairs Committee yesterday
introduced legislation authorizing
the construction Of 1,799 combatant
auxiliary and patrol vessels in addi-
ton to those previously authorized
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