Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-12
The Legislative Record

Two subjects were emphasized by PRESIDENT
Eisenhower in his most recent address to the
Nation on the administrators legislative pro-
gram. They were: % The tax revision bill and
60 the farm program.
With reference to the tax bill, the President
laid his greatest stress upon the desirability of
early passage The measure, the first compre-
hensive overhauling of revenue legislation in
many years was passed by the House weeks ago.
While it has been rewritten extensively in the
Senate Finance Committee, the changes have
been almost entirely in Technology rather than
in substance. There u.s. in other words, no basic
difference in intent between the House and
Senate on this issue. AS for partisan disagree
.ment the Democrats in the Senate Finance
Committee already have given up their fight to
raise personal exemptions revision that
would have been highly costly in terms Of rev.
enue-and it is reasonable guess that the
omnibus bill will go through the Senate quickly
and about in the form reported from commit
tee. The technical changes may take some time
in conference between House and Senate out it
looks assured now that the administration is
going to have its tax revision as planned. If
this is the case, the President is justified in
asking that it all happen as quickly as possible
so that those affected by the changes in the
tax law can know exactly where they stand
AS for the farm program, the President took
a politically bold position in reafarming his
commitment to system of flexible price sup
ports as against the present rigid 80 per cent
of parity formula. It has been political dogma
that neither Of the big parties should Offend"
the farm States in an election year. The Pres
ident, on the advice Of qualified group and
with the full support of Secretary of Agriculture
Benson, has undertaken to establish different
relationship between government and agricul-
ture-one which, in his words may include
genuine concern "for all farmers, regardless Of
their politics, and for all America" The Pres
ident needs public support on this issue and his
franknesS in stating his position again is deserv
ing of appreciation.
In other respects the administrators leg
iSlative program is not in such bad shape as
seemed likely fortnight or so ago. Whether
or not he chooses to call 1t retreat the Presi-
dent has accepted the fact that he cannot get
his recommended three-year extension and lib
eralization Of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements
Act. It does appear now, however, that he will
get the simple one year extenSion-and without
any barriers to negotiating some new agree
ments during the IL months involved. Hawaiian
statehood and Taft-Hartley Act changes have
been pigeonholed by this Congress but broad
extension of the social security system, modern
ization of the Atomic Energy Act and continu-
ance of the foreign-aid program seem assured
There is considerable difference between House
and Senate versions of the housing bill but the
administration still has a chance to influence
the legislation in conference.
Whether or not all this adds up to the
dynamic" program referred to originally by.
President Eisenhower is a question that will
be answered by the voters in November. 1t
might be argued persuasively from either side,
but the Chief Executive presented a logical
and effective summary of the case in support
of his claim in his talk to the Nation on Thurs
day night.