Evening star., 1943-07-21
Congress Is Nearing
Truce With Agencies
On Food and Farms
BY the Associated Press.

4AAC CACSutlFC Va dl1kl1 dIlo
legislative leaders appeared to
be headed toward truce on
some of their major farm and
food policy differences today as:
/. Senator Russell, Democrat, of
Georgia called on his farm State
colleagues to meet the administra-
ton halfway on any move it might
make toward reconciliation of those
differences, and,
2. The Agricultural Adjustment
Agency forbade its 100000 field en-
ployes and committeeman to dis
tribute information about AAA farm
programs through news channels.
Senator Russell told reporters he
was pleased that War Food Admin
istrator Marvin Jones planned to
consult with members of Congress
before making final decisions affect
ing future farm problems.
Wants "Give- and Take" Spirit.
"It would do well for the admin
istration and members of Congress
to approach such conferences in a
spirit of mutual helpfulness. and
without chips on their shoulders"
the Senator added
The Georgian said congressional
sentiment still favored better farm
prices rather than Government sub
sides, but he believed a spirit of
give and take" would iron out differ
ences of opinion on the subsidy
question, as well as other issues.
His assertions followed an Agri-
culture Department Interpretation
of a provision in its new appropria-
ton act which prohibited the use OF
Federal funds in paying salaries and
expenses of any AAA information
employe. The announcement told
the employees, as we'll as the State,
county and local farmer committee
men, that they must not carry on
any promotional activity for. the
AAA as an institution or for its poll
cies, or attempt to build public
pressure for or against congressional
action on farm measures.
Other Developments on Food.
The congressional refusal of funds
for international work followed
complaints that AAA employees and
committeeman had sought to influ-
ence legislative attitude on a pro-
posed crop incentive payment pro-
gram.
These armistice moves conceded
with a variety of developments on
the ever-pressing food question.
They included War Food Ad-
ministration decision to require
slaughterers to trim more fat for
lard off pork cuts, Senate COM
mittees plans to investigate charges
that chain stores have bought small
meat packing plants and cut of
supplies from small retailers, and
the setting of new retail price CELL
ings on fresh fish-possibly to COM
bat reported strike" of fishermen.
Apparently disappointed at the
failure of lard output to keep pace
with expanding production of heavy
hogs, VITA is preparing the rigid
meat processing order to revise the
present situation which permits
packers to leave larger percentage
Of fat on pork cuts than normal
and still find ready market. Be-
cause Of that situation, VIA spokes-
men said, much fat which otherwise
would be processed into lard for
commercial sale has been wasted In
family kitchens.
The new regulation could be ex-
pected to hold down the prices Of
the heavier hogs-since lard sells for
less than most pork cuts - and,
change feeding practices among
farmers who have been fattening
hogs to extra weights.
Senator Wherry, Republican, of
Nebraska, who will preside over the
Senate Small Business Committees
inquiry into the charges against
chain stores, said small retailers are
requesting that the Government re-
fuse to transfer the meat quotas of
newly-purchased packing plants to
the chain stores. He said the COM
plants charged that the plants pre-
viously served small retailers.
Meanwhile, the Office of Price Ad-
ministration ordered retail fish SELL
ers to limit their prices-starting to-
morrow--to formula based on the
number Of cents mark-up customar-
lily placed on fish between July 5
and July 10. Ceilings recently were
imposed on wholesale transactions,
which officials said brought COM
plants from fishermen that dealers
were able to make extra profits.
From the Once Of the Co-ordi-
nator Of Fisheries came estimates
that the work-stoppage OF tnese
fishermen already Ia costing the
country more than 5000. 900 pounds
Of fish q week.