Evening star., 1946-02-27
House Receives Bill
For Billion 10 Finance
Farm Revolution
BY the Assoeioted Press

A billion dollar Agriculture De-
partment appropriation bill to help
finance IAN industrial revolution on
the land" went to the House floor
today.
First big peacetime farm measure,
1t carries funds for the fiscal year
starting next July for the depart
ments many activities, including
rural rehabilitation and rural elec-
trification loans and for, farm con-
servation payments.
Along with the bill, scheduled to
be debated early next week, the Ap-
preparations Committee made public
testimony Of Secretary of Agricul-
ture Anderson predicting steadily
increasing farm production.
War Experience Paves Way.
Agriculture's experience during
the war in the face of labor and
machinery shortages, Mr.. Anderson
told the committee, foreshadows
what can be done in peacetime.
1T practically amounts to an IN
dustrial revolution on the land" he
commented. From this revolution
there is no turning back"
The actual amount involved in the
bill is $1,102, ,549,017, consisting of
S573,594 ,949 in direct appropriations.
Sill .454 ,o6S in reappropriations of
unexpended funds previously made
available, $50,0O0000 in transfers
OF existing funds, and $367 500 900 in
loan authorizations.
Exceeds Current Year Funds.
The overall total, while $50,715 ,623
below budget estimates, exceeds cur
rent year funds by $74,253,851.
Loan authorizations approved by
the committee subject to full con-
greSslonal sanction include SGT, ,500,-
600 for rural rehabilitation; $50
100000 for farm tenancy, of which
one-half was earmarked for loans to
veterans, and $3.50, 100000 for rural
electrification.
Largest single cash allotment was
$500 100000 for payments to farm
ers under the regular agricultural
conservation program. This total
includes $42,500. 900 in unspent bal
ances from previous appropriations.
Relaxes Conservation Payments. !
The Committee wrote into the bill
a provision making the conserva-
tion payments available to farmers
unable to apply for them in the past
because they were serving in the
armed forces.
Another large allotment was $50
100000 for the school lunch pro-
gram, the total being $25,000, 900
below budget estimates.
In its formal report on the bill,
the committee cautioned the Bureau
Of Agricultural Economics against
continuing research work in subjects
considerably afield" from agricul-
ture. and cut the bureaus funds
from $2,480,1 $50 to 81 1894, GOT.
Holding Food Storage Cave.
Secretary Anderson also disclosed
that, despite repeated congressional
criticism the Agriculture Depart
ment is continuing to operate a
100000 cooler storage cave near
Atchison, Kans., because it can't |
dispose of the property without a
large monetary loss.
The limestone cave was leased
by the former War Food Admins
tration during the war when it ap-
peared additional food storage space
would be necessary. Following an
of VITA the Appro-
priations Committee last June said
It was not convinced of the neces-
sity of the facility and suggested
the VIA and the Commodity Credit
Corp. abandon the project and get
as much money back as possible.
Mr.. Anderson, who became Sec
retary after that report was issued
and VITA was abolished, said his
had attempted to sub
lease the cave. The only lease
offer received, he said, was from
an individual who said that if he
made any profit operating it he
would give the department a part