Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-14
Farm Bill Conference
Expected 10 Bring Out
Compromise Today
BY Allen Drury

Senate House conferees head
into what they hope win be their
final session on the farm bill to-
day. with the dairy price support
issue the principal remaining
stumbling block to a speedy
agreement.
Chairman Aiken OF the Senate
Agriculture Committee told re-.
porters after q late afternoon
session yesterday that the con-
ferees dhope to have our work
completed by the time we eat
lunch" today.
Mutual agreement by House
and Senate conferees to study at
a later time the controversial
two-price system for wheat and
a revision Of national grazing
laws apparently cleared the way
for dropping both from the farm
bill this year.
The Vermont Republican said
the Senate conferees, all men,
bers Of the Agriculture Commit
tee, agreed to study the House.
backed wheat price proposal to
give price supports to wheat in
the domestic market but let
wheat find its own level in the
world market. In return, he
said, House Agriculture Commit
tee members agreed they would
give similar study to plans to
change the laws governing graz
ing on national forest lands.
President States Views.
In a letter yesterday to Sem
ator Aiken and Chairman Hope
of the House committee, Presi-
dent Eisenhower said he is OPP
posed to the wheat pricing plan
but strongly favors the grazing
law changes.
Both are now apparently slated
to die in a deal between the con-
ferees to complete work on the
bill.
Still at issue, however, is the
Senate proposal to uphold Agri-
culture Secretary Benson's order
of last April reducing dairy price
supports from 80 to IS per cent
of parity. House confereeS favor
raising the level to 80 per cent on
September l, but Senate con-
ferees are adamant on main
tanning it at rs per cent.
Senator Aiken said he doesn't
think the differences are "in-
surmountable." But, he said, II
don't think q compromise on the
80 per cent level is at all pos
sible."
Gen. Eisenhower'S Intervention
brought a charge from one Of
the conferees, Representative
Cooley. Democrat, of North Caro-
lima, that this was unwarranted
interference with the legislature
by the Executive.
Letter Criticized.
Gen. Eisenhower's letter was
not read to the conferees by
either Senator Aiken or Repre-
sentative Hope, but all had seen
copies Of it.
I'm the past 20 years here"
Mr.. Cooley told reporters, i've
never known a President to write |
directly to members of a con- |
ference and seek to influence
them"
On this Senator Aiken COM
mented drily:
"Oh, my my. I'm not looking |
up the record but without it
I'm inclined to disagree. Be-
sides this the Presidents not
interfering. he's just giving us
his views"
In addition to the dairy issue,
conferees must also decide what |
to do about q two-year limit on
the price support program for
wool. The House version of the
bill contains the limitation but
1t was not approved by the
Senate. The President in !. his
letter opposed the limitation
and Senator Aiken said the
Senate conferees are also OPP
posed.
An amendment by Senator
Humphrey. Democrat, of Min
nesota. limiting farmer men,
bers OF county agricultural COM
mittees to three two-year terms
Is also opposed by the President
and apparently will be dropped
hu TIA