Evening star., 1953-10-23
Capitol Hill Discusses
New Action 10 Steady
Farm Price Setup

Capitol Hill today discussed
prospects for new farm legisla-
ton as critics of Secretary of
Agriculture Benson continued
their attack.
President Eisenhower's deci-
sion not to get entangled in next
years congressional elections
also was figuring in the overall
picture. Republican National
Chairman Leonard w. Hall, OBJ
viously not taking Gen. Eisen-
hover too literally, said after a
White House call that he ex-
pected the President to do some
talking about the accomplish
ments of the Republican Party.
Two Republican Senators and
one Democratic Senator said
they expected that Congress next
year would continue price sup
| ports for basic crops and per-
haps broaden the program to
cover additional commodities.
This prediction came from
Senators Mundt, of South Dakota
and Payne. of Maine, Republi-
cans. and Stennis. Democrat. of
Mississippi.
Benson at White House.
The agricultural situation also
came in for review at the White
House where Gen. Eisenhower
scheduled a lunch with Secre-
tary Benson, Don Paarlberg, a
Benson aide, and members of
the White House staff.
This conference was prelimi-
nary to the first meeting here
tomorrow of the newly-formed
Agricultural Advisory Committee,
whose studies are expected to
figure heavily in the preparation
of the new farm program Presi-
dent Eisenhower has promised.
The price support principle
will be carried over in any new
set-up, the President told Kan
sas City farm audience last week,
but he opened the way to
changes.
The President stoutly defended
his beleaguered Agriculture Sec
tary at Wednesdays news con-
ference, and as a result drew new
fire yesterday from Senator
Young, Republican, of North Da-
kota, who originally opposed the
Benson appointment.
Young Hits Administration.
Senator Young said that "the
administrations lack of farm pol
icy and their multi-billion dollar
glorif1ed Truman giveaway for
eign program are very unpopular
in the Middle West"
He said also that the Presi-
dents announcement that he
would not stump for G. o. P.
congressional candidates next
year will help the Republicans
greatly in the Midwest"
Senator Mundt. a member Of
the Senate Agricultural Com
mittee, said he was confident
Congress would not approve any
change in the law that would
weaken present price supports or
reduce the income of the farmer.
tits my belief that Congress
will approve an extension of the
present price support program
and perhaps include other stor-
able crops not now on the man
datory (support) list" he said.
Payne Sees No Cutbacks.
Similarly, Senator Payne said
he does not expect cutbacks in
the present program requiring
that prices of six basic crops
cotton. wheat. tobacco, rice, pea
nuts and corn-be supported
through Government loans to
farmers at 80 per cent of parity.
Parity is a calculated price
set by law to give farmers a fair
return on their products in re-
lation to the cost of the things
they have to buy.
Senator Payne said he knew
the possibility of placing more
storable commodities on the
mandatory price support list is
under discussion at high levels"
Senator StenniS also said he
believes Congress will extend
the present farm support law,
now due to expire at the end
of 1854, adding: "You can't just
cut agriculture loose and let it
sink or swim"
Representative Simpson, Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania, chair
man of the G.. o. P. Congress
sional Campaign Committee, said
a months pulse-taking has con-
vinced him farmers are mighty
unhappy" over declining farm
prices and that party fences
are pretty run down."
IF anything" he said in Phil
adelphia. "the Presidents per-
sonal popularity seems to have
increased. But that does not
carry over to the Republican
Party or anyone seeking congress
sional Office next year"
UnioniSt Asks Action.
Joseph A. Beirne, president of
the CIO Communications Work.
ers' Union, today called on Gen.
Eisenhower to carry out your
wise and admirable campaign
pledges to the farmers"
Mr.. Beirne wrote the President
that the CWA's 100000 members
are "acutely aware" that the Ma
tion's prosperity depends on the
stability of agriculture land that
the continued decline in the
purchasing power of farmers will
certainly have detrimental in
fluence" on labor.
Mr.. Beirne criticized Secretary
Benson's policies and said some
of the marked uneasineSs"
among the farmers can be traced
to the appointment of 80 many
businessmen, rather than farm