Evening star., 1944-02-18
.HouseSustains
President Veto
.0fSubsidyB Ban
Vote Is Isl to 226
After Roosevelt Calls
Bill lnfIotionory
(Tert OF Message on Page A-12J

(Tert Of Message on Page A-12.)
President Roosevelt today We
toed legislation outlawing con-
sumer subsidies after June 80.
and the House, by a vote Of Isl
to 226 promptly sustained the
Chief Executive, who had de-
clared that "its restrictive pro-
visions" would boost food costs
7 per cent and raise the whole
cost of living materially"
Acting in less than "a hours after
the antisubsidy measure reached
the White House, Mr.. Roosevelt in
a message told Congress: The bill
presented to me would destroy the
stabillzation program. I cannot ac-
cept responsibility for its disastrous
consequences.
With BIT Representatives present
opponents were able to muster only
226 votes, falling short of the two
thirds required to override a veto.
Earlier at his press conference,
the President indicated the pos
sibility of veto of the s2,3l5, 900 900
new tax bill when he told reporters
that he would send a message on
1t to Congress either Monday or
Tuesday.
Asked what would be In the tax
message. Mr.. Roosevelt said with a
laugh that it would be discourteous
to Congress to disclose its contents.
The present bill falls far short Of
the $l0,500 900 900 revenue program
asked by the administration, and
congressional leaders have predicted
that the President would veto the
measure since he feels that it also
has other vital defects.
Warns of Initiation.
The antisubsidy bill, Mr.. Roosevelt
said, is an imitation measure.
high cost-of-li living measure, food
shortage measure"
The legislation proposes to end
Government subsidy payments for
food and would extend the life of
the Commodity Credit Corp. until
June 80, 1945.
Mr.. Roosevelt said that it, In ef-
feet, would reverse a congressional
policy and repeal the Economic
Sterilization Act.
He said no major warning nation
had been able to stabilize living
costs without subsidies, and that he
did not see how the wage line could
be held If the bill became law.
Once that line breaks, he asserted
food costs will rise still further and
all other costs will go up. including
those OF munitions and supplies for
the armed forces,
Mr.. Roosevelt urgently recon-
mended that Congress extend the
life of the CCC, without hampering
restrictions" as soon as possible so
that farmers can make plans for
planting with knowledge of support
prices on which they can depend.
CCC Will Be Continued.
After the House vote Speaker Ray
burn said the corporation would be
continued by new legislation.
The legislation, he contended,
would boost costs for the Army and
Navy by many billions" Further
more. he said, not only would it cost
every American family more to buy
necessities. but it would cost more
to run factories and farms.
The weight of the increased bur-
den,' he said, will fall on all of US.
but most Of all on the unorganized
workers and others who live on
small and relatively fixed incomes,
among whom are most of the de-
pendents of our fighting men,"
The subsidy repeal measure re-
ceived top heavy majorities in both
houses. 1t passed the House. 278 to
lit. November % and the Senate.
43 to %, last week.
The administration had sought
subsidies in the amount of sl,5OO..
100000 for the purpose of holding
down retail food prices during 1914.
Key Foods Covered.
The cost of subsidies on about II
key food commodities, including
meats, butter, sugar. milk and
bread, exceeded $1,000, 900, 900 last
year. Price Administrator Chester
Bowles has predicted food prices
would rise at least 7 per cent with
out subsidies.
The bill authorizes the continu.
(See VETO page A-Io0