Evening star., 1942-09-27
Hatch Suggests Move
To Make Farm Parity
Formula Mandatory
Poll Of Senate Shows
40 for Compromise, IS
Against, "a Undecided
Continued From First Page

Against, "a Undecided
Continued From First Page)
the 96 Senators will vote for the
compromise.
Count on More Republicans.
The republicans and one inde.
pendent, Senator Norris of Ne.
braska, were listed among the A
for the compromise. Administration
hackers were counting on the sup.
port of IL more Republicans from
the "a Senators not yet publicly
on record. If this hope is borne
out, the Republicans would be play
Ing an important role in saving the
administration from another defeat
similar to the one in the House q
few days ago, when the farm blot
wrote the labor cost rule into the
farm parity price formula.
The battle is due to reach the
voting stage late tomorrow or Tues
day. Under the parliamentary sit
uation that prevails, the roll must
first be called on the Thomas-Hatcll
amendment before the Barkley COM
promise can be offered as a SUBJ
stitute.
And, strange as it may seem, in
formed sources predicted last night
that the farm bloc amendment may
be adopted. only to go out of the bill
later when the compromise is offered
This prediction is based on reports
that a substantial number of SenaA
tors will vote for the first amend
ments then swing their support to
the compromise.
Senator Thomas said last night
that if the new suggestion OF Sen
ator Hatch is offered, it probably
will be put forward as separate
proposition after the two proposals
already pending have been voted on.
Suggested for Discussion.
Senator Hatch indicated he has
not definitely decided to offer the
new Amendment, but had sug-
gested it for discussion. If offered
he said, 1t would add to and make
mandatory the pending compromise
One other question to be decided
tomorrow is whether there should
be written into the administration
compromise specific date from
which increased labor costs should
be considered in adjusting farm
price ceilings. Senator George
Democrat, of Georgia raised this
point, expressing the opinion that
as the compromise now stands, ii
could be interpreted as requiring
consideration only of future in
creases in labor cost. He believed
increases in farm wages since the
outbreak of the war in Europe
should be considered.
Senator Thomas said he had
heard supporters Of the compromise
were considering including speci-
fic date.
After the farm issue is settled
Senate leaders hope to pass the
anti-infla ton bill by Tuesday
giving President Roosevelt the added
authority he requested to stabilize
wages and farm prices. The present
law, passed in Junauary, prohibited
the placing of ceilings on farm
prices until they reached ITO per
cent of parity, or the price levels
Of certain specified periods. Repeal
of these farm standards is one OF
the basic objects of the pending
bill, which seeks to make 100 per
cent of parity the standard, but with
power to make adjustments when
necessary to stimulate production
Of food for war needs, or to allow
for farm labor costs.
Say Owners May Leave Farms.
In statement last night Senate,
Thomas predicted farm owners may
join their hired workers in leaving
the farm to work in war factorie.
''if they are denied fair prices" HI
quoted an Ohio farmer as reporting
that farmers in that State are work.
ing in shipyards and steel mills fol
from $50 to 500 a week.
why farm for Is cents PEI
hour?" the Senator inquired. "Wh.
raise corn for $1.18 per hundred
weight and pay $35 per hundred
weight for breakfast food from corn
"If food production for any rea
son is curtailed, then we may fac
q food shortage in 1943 and actua
hunger, if not starvation, in 1914
Whatever happens, our soldiers wi
have first priority on food. TIL
workers in defense plants will com
second and the balance of us wi
fight for what is left. Such con
dition will mean real imitation i
food prices.
"A far better policy will be fo
the Government to bring farm price
into a fair relationship with indus
trial prices and wages and then t
rigidly stabilize such prices durin
the war. All agree that prices mus
be placed under control and ker
from rising. At present the Go,
ernMent, which means the peopl'
is spending some $5,000,000 pc
month for war equipment and ex
penses. While the people are force
to buy almost everything and !
such large quantities. good busine.
dictates that all prices be kept {
reasonable levels.
Later, when the war is over an
the people have to pay the costs {
this war, then it will be time to TAX
stock of our economic condition
and make adjustments with respe'
to prices as at the time may /
necessary"
Railway Officials Deny
Need for Rote Revision
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 26 CP)..
CLYDE B. Aitchison, chairman of ii
Ynfarstatc COrarnerce CnmmiSSin