Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-04
Signing Of Farm Bill
Hinted by President
Perfection
NotRequired,
HeAsserts
Nv JAMES Y. NEWTON

President Eisenhower today
limited strongly that he would
sign farm legislation containing
some provisions he does not like.
The President at his news
conference refused to say wheth-
err he would compromise with
congressional advocates of high,
fixed farm price supports If he
could get his soil bank proposal
written into law. He said he
would have to look at the whole
bill before commenting.
But he did say that he is not
one to hold up bill containing
some bad features if the over
all effect of the legislation is
good. He added he would not
delay necessary legislation in
the hope of attaining perfec-
ton
Mr.. Eisenhower's remarks were
interpreted as indicating a con-
siderable softening of his atti-
.tude toward a compromise farm
bill.
Doesn't Blame Democrats
Mr.. Eisenhower refused to join
in a charge made by his assistant,
Sherman Adams. that Demo-
cratic leaders in Congress are
deliberately frustrating his legis-
Ilative program. He said he didn't
know the circumstances in which
Mr.. Adams made the remark, but
that he believes in general the
people in Congress are trying to
do what's best for the people of
the United States, despite some
partisan flareups.
The questions put to the Pres
lident concerned the farm bill
Ion which Senate-H House con-
ferees are now trying to work
out a compromise.
The conferees have reached
general agreement on the soil
bank plan proposed by the ad-
ministration. But they also have
voted high-level, rigid price sup
ports on major crops for one
year.
Agriculture Secretary Benson
has indicated he would recon-
mend a veto Of the bill if it calls
Tor a return to any such plan,
which the Eisenhower admins
tration has always opposed.
Could Take Effect in FAN
Mr.. Eisenhower said it was too
late, with spring planting start
ed and the farmers already hav-
ing made their plans. for much
oenef1C to be derived this wear
from a soil bank plan. It could
come in time for fall planting
ne pointed out, and good farm
program could be put into effect
then.
In answer to question on the
political effect of farm unrest
the President said the farmers
nave right to be bewildered bv
declining prices for their prod
uctS.
( Inc President said the prob
lens besetting farmers have
oeen around long time ever
since there have been rigid price
supports. This plan, he added.
has piled up SURPRISES of farm
products deeper and deeper
Secretary Benson and he, the
President added. have been try
ing to do something about it.
Mr.. Eisenhower said he was
trying to get a good farm bill,
one that will make sense five
years from now as we'll as today,
Not Requiring Perfection
On the political side of the
problem, he said he believed
most farmers know the admin
istration is trying to do some
thing for them, something that
would be good for the farmers
and the whole country.
Twice during the news con-
ference Mr.. Eisenhower said he
wasn't one to hold up legisla-
ton in order to attain perfec-
| ton.
But when asked if he would
go along with 80 per cent price
supports for a year in order to
get through the soil bank plan,
he said he wouldn't want to
make any statement on that
until he has the whole bill be-
fore him.
.