Evening star., 1946-03-19
Minimum Pay Bill
MAY Be Sidetracked
BY Senate Leaders
BY the Assceiotsd Press

By The A,.eeioisd Press
Senate leaders debated today
shelving the new 65-cent mini
mum wage bill temporarily be-
cause of the strong opposition ii
faces and because of a farm bloc
threat to use the measure to seek
higher agricultural prices.
Backers of the administration
wage legislation seemed to feel that
delay might work to their advan-
tage, hence they talked of switching
consideration of two pending appro-
priations bills.
One provides 1854, ,114,000 the bulk
Of which would go to meet pay in
creases recently voted for Federal
employees.
The other bill carries $3,347 200 for
war agencies, including $1,600, 900
for OPA and 81 10000 for the Civil
ian Production Administration. Both
measures are to cover the remain
der of the current fiscal year which
ends June 80.
"Infationary Whirr' Feared.
Administration forces reacted
sharply to the tentative efforts of
some farm State legislators to have
the minimum wage bill provide for
farm price boosts.
Senators Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nois; Pepper, Democrat, OF Florida
and Murray, Democrat, of Montana
asserted such a move would bring
an "inflationary wheel" certain to
upset the entire sterilization and
price control program, especially as
it relates to food"
The proposal they hit is sponsored
by Senator Russell, Democrat, of
Georgia. 1t would establish a new
formula for figuring farm parity
prices by taking into account the
increases in wages and other ex-
penses on the farms.
With the public support of Chair
man Thomas of the Senate Agricul-
ture Committee and Senator Bank
head, Democrat, of Alabama, Sena-
tor Russell has called for a show
down.
Senators Lucas, Pepper and Muir
ray countered by releasing an Agri-
culture Department study which as
serted that use of the new parity
plan would increase farm prices
about 33 per cent.
Danger Seen in Years Ahead.
"A new round of wage demands,
would, of course, be generated and
the whole stabilization and price
control program wrecked the de-
partments economists declared.
The study predicted that revision
of the parity-price plan would run
into danger in the years just ahead
when the current food crisis sub
sides and in times of surplus might
cause farm prices to drop far below
Government attempts to support
farm prices.
PARTY is the price the Agriculture
Department calculates gives farm
er a fair return, in terms of things
he buys, for the commodity he pro-
duces.l
The mood of the farm State legis-
lators was reflected in the vigor OF
Senator Russell's comments on Sec
retary of Agriculture Anderson's
statement that the Russell amend
ment would be infiationary.
The Georgian declared Mr.. An
derson's remarks appeared to con-
firm reports that the farmer has
no real friends in any of the policy
making positions within the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Time for "Housecleaning."
"If this is true Senator Russell
added in statement, lit is time for
a housekeeping in the department.
Senator Thomas, saying he agreed
with Senator Russell told reporters
We're looking with a lantern and a
fine-tooth comb to find some friend
of the farmer in the executive de-
partment of the Government"
Senator Russell referred to Mr.
Anderson in an interview as playing
the role of a Charley Mccarthy
for Mr.. Bowles and the PAC" be-
cause Mr.. Anderson publicly opposed
Senator Russell's plan to lift farm
parity prices.
Chester Bowler. leader in the ad-
ministrator's battle against infla-
ton as stabilization director, and
the Political Action Committee both
have openly opposed Senator Rus
sells plan to revise farm parity
prices upward through rejecting in
creased farm wages.
Secretary Anderson aroused the
Senate farm bloc by announcing his
Opposition to the Russell amend
ment in an interview at Kansas City
Mo. He termed the plan inflation-
ary and said it would wreck the
whole stabilization and price con-
troll program