Evening star., 1951-07-27
Farm Bill Hidden Items
OF Nearly a Billion
Charged by Williams

Senator Williams. Republican,
of Delaware, said today the agri-
culture appropriation bill being
debated in the Senate contains
nearly a billion dollars in hidden
items"
Senator Williams declared that
76,808,000 of this was brought
"out in the open" yesterday when
a proposed mote cancellation"
item in the bill was changed to
a direct cash addition.
What I'm trying to do won't
save any money this time" Sena-
tor Williams told a reported. But
at least it will show tn public
and { lot of Senators-just what
our farm program is actually cost
ing the taxpayers"
Senator Williams planned to
offer at least two amendments
during the day which he said
will expose another hidden item
of $427 million and third Of
$32 million"
Final Vote Sought Today.
Senator Russell, Democrat, of
Georgia, floor manager for the
annual money bill providing cash
and loan funds for the Agriculture
Department, hoped to get final
passage vote late today.
Late yesterday Senator Russell
persuaded the Senate to tack an
extra $76, ,S08,000 of cash onto the
bill to pay United States costs
under the international wheat
agreement for the past year.
At First, Senator Russell pro-
posed directing the Treasury to
cancel notes of this amount from
the Commodity Credit Corp.
Senator Williams raised a
point of order" that the cancel
lation would amount to legisla-
ton in a money bill. This is bar
red by Senate rules. Vice Presi-
dent Barkley ruled Senator Will
liamS was right.
Senator Russell then moved to
suspend Senate rules-which re-
quires a two-thirds vote. Later,
however. he changed tactics and
offered it as a direct cash addi-
ton to the bill. That went
through on standing vote.
Total Called for ,740,000,00O.
The big farm bill came from
the appropriations committee
tagged: Amount of bill as re-
ported to Senate-$751, ZOO, ,000."
Senator Williams said the total
actually would be $1,740, ,000, 900
when all cash, loan authorizations,
administration expenses and note
cancellations are counted.
"The money all comes from the
Treasury and the taxpayers, so
we might as well get it out in the
Open" he said.
As the bill passed the House and
now is before the Senate, it directs
the Treasury to cancel two set Of
Gees notes for $427 million and
1927 million.
The larger item represents ]
losses in price support operations; il
the smaller, costs of fighting the
hoof-and-mouth disease, largely
spent in Mexico. II
II can't make points of order !
against them because they were j
approved by the House." Senator Ie
Williams said. But I will ask Is
that the cancellations be elimi- q
mated and then offered as direct q
cash item, just as the wheat loss
was"
Pleas on Wheat Item Fail.
Some Republicans pleaded in =
vain with Senator Russell late yes .
terday to send the $76.a08, 900 :
wheat item back to committee for =
additional hearings. -
The Senate was told that the =
loss resulted because world wheat =
prices were lower than in this =
country, so that the Government =
agency suffered losses on each
bushel exported under the agree I
ment. I
The item pushed the cash total Q
Of the bill up to $826,5 ,130 or Z
about $110 million more than was c
voted by the House. -
Senator Williams said other I
items that should be counted in G
clude; $172,177.264 of permanent g
appropriations" that come chiefly I
from customs receipts; 1852 mil e
lion of loan authority to aid farm I
ers to get electric and telephone !
service buy farms or produce !
crops; $20,454.00 in administra- 4
tive expenses of various farm
agencies, and the $459, ,700, 900 Of
CCC note cancellations by the !
Treasury.