Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-07-27
Senators 10 Prepare
NewCompromise on
Farm Price Supports
BY the Asseeio'ed Press

Senators of both parties agreed
today to try to work out a new
compromise OH farm legislation
minus the help of Secretary Of
Agriculture Brannan.
Senator Anderson, Democrat, of
New Mexico said he has two
drafts of possible bills ready for
closed session of the Senate
Agriculture Committee.
Senator Aiken. of Vermont, top
ranking Republican member Of
this committee, said he will CO.
operate in a non-partisan effort
to pass a farm bill at this session
Of Congress.
Neither of Senator Anderson's
plans involves the novel proposal
by Secretary Brannan to let mar
ket prices of meats, dairy products
and other perishable farm prod
ucts seek their own level while
farmers collected Treasury sub
sides if necessary to bring their
cash receipts to a Government-set
level.
Sense Of Illustration.
Mr.. Brannan told critical Sena-
tors at a stormy session yesterday
that unless Congress approves his
proposal, at least for partial
trial, II have a sense of frustra-
ton"
Senator Anderson talked Of
possibly revising the long range
flexible price support plan passed
by the l94s Republican controlled
Congress and called the Aiken Act
because of its sponsor. Senator
Aiken said he and other Republic
cans might 60 along. Among
other things the revision would
fix the Government support levels
at from rs to 80 per cent Of parity.
Parity is a computed price. in
tended to give farm products a
value In fair relationship to the
price Of things a farmer must buy.
The 1948 act calls for support
levels from so to 80 per cent but
Senator Aiken says the Secretary
Of Agriculture has authority to
maintain them at the upper levels.
Senators at the closed session
yesterday agreed that Democrats
as we'll as Republicans peppered
Mr.. Brannan with critical ques-
tons. The Secretary, for the most
part, was said to have avoided d.
rect replies.
Sees No Cooperation.
ut was a keen disappointment
to find the Secretary unwilling to
cooperate in any way with Sen
ators," Senator Aiken said. II got
the impression he wants the 1948
act as ID is in order to do the worst
he can with it. certainly hope I
am wrong"
Other Republicans, including
Senators Young Of North Dakota
and KEN of Missouri. were said to-
have told Secretary Brannan face
to face that Republicans had CO.
operated last year with MIR. Bran
nan and President Truman in
drafting the long-range flexible
farm plan.
- Then, the Republican Senators
said. Mr.. Truman, Mr.. Brannafl
and other Democrats used this as
a political club during last years
campaign to accuse Republicans
of sticking a pitchfork in the back
of farmers.
Senators Anderson. Aiken END
other Senators said there Is little
chance the Senate Agriculture
Committee will approve any part
of the Brannan plan or the House.
passed farm bill.
The House bill calls for another
years extension of the rigid war
time 90 per cent of parity on most
major farm products.
If Senators can agree on farm
legislation, they will be in a posi-
ton to bargain for compromise
with the House. Otherwise the
1913 act with its lower price floors
becomes effective January !.