Evening star., 1946-04-15

ISSV111uoly NsuVVsSVu
Tells Senate Group
By Malcolm Lomborne. Jr.
Secretary of Agriculture An
derson today told the Senate
Small Business Committee there
was no alternative to the pro-
posed Is per cent flour reduction
order for the Nations bakeries
and retailers, II this country is
to meet its wheat commitments
to foreign nations.
At the same time, the Secretary
admitted that he personally had
failed to note compliance by restau-
rants and dining cars with food
conservation measures urged last
month by the Presidents Famine
Emergency Committee, despite
agreement by the industry to CO.
operate.
II have reached the conclusion
we must tell the restaurants that
they must get along with Is per
cent less -four" Mr.. Anderson de-
clared. The Senate committee called
Mr.. Anderson as its first witness
after reporting flood Of complaints
from small bakers that the proposed
order would force them out of busi-
ness.
theoretically, the order should
be issued at once" the Secretary as
serted in replying to a suggestion of
Senator Wherry, Republican, of
Nebraska that the order be held up
three weeks to allow time for the
Governments wheat procurement
program at grain elevators to have
effect.
Close to Bottom of Barrel.
Waiting, Mr.. Anderson said,
would only mean that much wheat
would disappear in the meantime.
Il sum UP the wheat situation like
this: To meet our export commit
ments between now and the end OF
June, we've got to squeeze around
40 ,0o0, 900 bushels out of our con-
sumption and our stocks" he de-
clared.
Mr.. Anderson gave committee
members copies of the latest Agri-
culture Department wheat situa-
ton report, which warneQ that by
July /, wheat stocks in the four
exporting countrie-United States
Canada, Australia and Argentina
may be down to about 400, 0,000. 900
bushels. the smallest since 1898.
He pointed out that total re-
quirements for bread grains by other
nations for the first half of this
year were 7s4,0O0,000 bushels, as
against a total available world sup
ply of wheat OF between $4,000, 900
and 435, ,000, 900 bushels.
I'VE are getting closer to the bot
tom of the barrel" Mr.. Anderson
warned the committee.
Working on Corn Program.
He said that bakers would not
make as much money this year as
they could with unrestricted sup
plies Of wheat. but that "the same
is true Of distillers, and brewers, and
feed manufacturers and others"
An Agriculture Departmen
spokesman disclosed earlier that the
agency was working on a corn
purchase program through use of
certificates to farmers. 1t is similar
to the wheat purchase program, un-
der which holders of wheat who
will sell will be issued certificates
Of sale to the Government return
able at any time up to mid-1947.
The department, in a report yes
terday on the 1856 world corn
crop, estimated total world supplies
at $3.50, ,000, 900 bushels, the smallest
since ls4l. This is per cent below
the 1944-5 crop. Declines from a
year ago were noted by the depart
ment for North America and Eu-
rope, while South Americas crop,
now being harvested. is 80 per cent
above 1945's poor yield.
Meanwhile, UNRRA Director La
Guardia said he had urged a Is
per cent set-aside of American
grain at flour mills for foreign re-
lief. and not IS per cent as UNRRA
stated Saturday. He explained that
the higher figure was a clerical er-
ror in the Washington Office.
Wrong Figure Sent Out.
The message Ito British off1cials)
should have said Is per cent and
not IS per cent" Mr.. La Guardia
said, but maybe the typist had
better understanding than I had. 1t
was a slip of the tongue and not
mistake Of the heart. If the order
for Is per cent isn't made effective
soon, it will have to be IS per cent
before very long"
While the bakery industry is
strongly opposed to the order, ,he
milling industry appeared ready to
cooperate.
c. D. Mckenzie, president of the
Millers National Federation, tele-
graphed Government officials that it
would cooperate fully IN any work
able program that would get -four
and wheat to starving millions of
Europe and Asia, while providing
adequate supplies for America"
The message was sent to Mr.. An
derson, Chester C. Davis, executive
director Of the Famine Emergency
Committee, and Eugene Meyer, vice
chairman of the committee.
q. S. Aide in India Warns
OF Optimism Over Crops
NEW DELHI. April IS tF.-