Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-09
Major Congress Fight
Is Shaping Up Over
Farm Price Supports
By Chalmers M. Roberts

Inc Stage Is being set on Capitol
Hill for what promises to be one
OF the major legislative battles of
the year-whether or not farm price
supports shall remain at a manda-
tory 30 per cent of parity figure.
Adding to this was President Tru-
mans cautious Endorsement of the
flexible support system due to take
effect next January l, unless the
law is changed. Tomorrow's budget
message, likely to include some dis
cussion OF the cost of price sup
ports, may further stir discussion.
Mr.. Truman, in his economic re-
port sent to Congress last Friday,
declared the Nation needs meas
ures to encourage shifts in the COM
position OF farm output realistically
adjusted to our domestic and export
needs" and he urged Congress to
"re-examine existing and proposed
legislation" in the light of these
and other objectives.
Rouses Party Opposition.
At the same time he passed on to
Congress the report Of his Council
of Economic Advisers, which was
more outspoken on the same subject.
The report declared that the flexible
program of supports enacted with
bipartisan support in the 80th
Congress was IAN important step
forward in recognizing the diff
culties associated with over-rigid
supports" and added that rigid
systems of support" can lead only
to the farmers detriment in the
end.
Although Mr.. Truman did not
openly condemn the drive for a re-
turn to rigid 80 per cent price
support program for major crops,
his and his councils words were
sufncient to rouse opposition among
the large Democratic bloc In both
houses which expects to push
through such program this year.
The controversy had party lines
badly crossed.
In the Senate, the chairman of
the Agriculture Committee, Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma,
Immediately declared that there
is nothing in the economic report,
as I read it, to upset our plans for
go per cent Of parity. In fact, the
President plugged for 100 per cent
Of parity"
Seen Backing Flexible Plan.
But the man who almost single
handedly pushed the flexible pro-
gram through Congress last June,
Senator Aiken, Republican, of Yer
mont. saw the statement as one that
completely supports the flexible
price support law" He added the re-
port was IAN effective answer to the
proponents Of a rigid infiationary
level OF support of farm commodi-
ties" Senator Aiken is ranking
minority member on the Senate
Committee.
On the house side, where the Agri-
culture Committee is firmly under
the control Of Southern Democrats
plus some Midwest Republicans who
also are driving for a return to
80 per cent supports, Representative
Pace, Democrat, Of Georgia, declared
there is no more reason or justice
In changing the farmers support
level with every change in supply
than there would be In changing
wages with every changes in the
degree Of employment"
He was referring to q provision
OF the flexible law, which takes eff
feet January /, 1850, that DETER
mines the level of price supports
on major erops-wheat, corn, cot
ton, tobacco, rice and peanuts-on
the basis Of the supply Of each crop
on hand. Supports could be set by
the Secretary Of Agriculture any
where within the range of 90 to 90
per cent Of parity. Parity Is the
price level computed to represent
q return fair to both farmers and
consumers.
Senate Group Split.
A canvass Of the two Agriculture
Committees indicates that the
House group is likely to report out
a new rigid 90 per cent support bill
while the Senate group, which now
includes former Secretary of Agri-
culture Anderson, New Mexico
Democrat, supporter of the fiex-
ible provision, badly split over the
issue.
Best estimates on the Hill appear
TO be that much will depend on the
position Of the present Agriculture
Secretary, Charles F. Brannan. Mr..
Brannan, during debate on the bill
last year, was all for the flexible
program, pointing out, as had his
predecessor. that had such q plan
been in effect two years ago, it
would have avoided the costly potato
support fiasco. But since the cleo
ton Secretary Brannan has con-
tented himself with suggesting only
that Congress review the problem.
II is generally believed that Presi-
dent Truman will take whatever
position his cabinet member ap-
proves, SO great is his admiration
Tor Mr.. Brannan and the big part
he played in swinging farm States
70 the lruman-B Barley ticket in the
November election.
various Senators and Represent
atives have said that it is necessary
to begin work at once on a new
farm bill-both sides favor some
cnanges-so that it can be sent to
PRESIDENT Truman around late
April or early May, in time for
farmers to know the Governments
Position before planting next falls
crops.
Pace Hold Hearings.
Representative Pace already is