Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-07
Calls Bill
Not Acceptable
Confers With
President on
Farm Issue

ASI lCulGulc OCClGldly DCIlSOA
said after a meeting with Presi-
dent Eisenhower today that the
farm bill compromise worked out
by House-Senate conferees lis
not acceptable to me in its pres
ent form
There was not statement from
President Eisenhower or other
officials concerning the bill which
they studied for more than an
hour this morning at the White
House. The President and Mr..
Benson plan to discuss it fur
ther with Republican congress
sional leaders Monday morning
before Mr.. Eisenhower leaves for
Augusta, Ga.
Mr.. Benson refused to COM
ment when reporters asked him
whether the administration
might try to have the House or
Senate return the bill to the
conferees who approved it last
night by an 8-to-2 vote He also
said he would not comment on
the White House discussion
today.
Nj. Benson made clear he was
speaking only for himself when
he replied to questions as 10
whether the bill was acceptable
in its present form.
Says Changes Are Needed
He was asked also whether he
hoped that some changes might
be made in the bill somewhere
along the line before it officially
reaches the White House.
There will have to be some
changes to make 1t a good BILL"
he answered.
The measure, as agreed on by
the conferees. retains the soil
bank program advocated by the
administration and specifies that
1t would be on a voluntary basis.
But the conference bill also in
lcludes a major provision opposed
by the administration. This
would restore to 90 per cent Of
parity the price supports level
Tor one year on basic crops.
Others beside President Eisen-
mower and Secretary Benson at
the long meeting in the Presi-
dents Office were Undersecre-
tary OF Agriculture True D.
Morse, Sherman Adams, assist
ant to the President: Wilton B.
Persons. deputy assistant to the
President; Administrative Assist
ant Fred Seaton and Gabriel
Hauge. economic adviser to the
President. Mr.. Persons is in
charge Of legislative Jason for
the White House.
White House Press Secretary
James c. Hagerty told reporters
that Secretary Benson will at
tend the Monday meeting with
Republican CONGRESSIONAL leaders.
Approval Forecast
AS the l0-member group from
the Senate and House Agriculture
Committees completed their task
OF rewriting the legislation. there
were predictions that White
House approval would be forth
coming, despite earlier predic-
tons of veto because of COM
modify price-support boosts in
serted over administration OBJ
Jections.
Il don't think there will be
any farm bill this year if this
one is vetoed" said Senator Ell
lender. Democrat of louisiana.
conference committee chairman,
He added that Mr.. Eisen-
hover had gotten practically
100 per cent of what he asked
in his January agriculture mes
sage And he feels the Presi-
dent will approve it.
Echoing this view. Representa-
tive Cooley. Democrat of North
Carolina, head of the House
conferees, added-with a straight
face-that the President should
be delighted" with the measure.
Two members OF the confer
ence. who have gone along with
the administration. in an effort
to hold down support levels, &c
fused to SIGN the Joint report.
Senator Aiken, Republican Of
Vermont, the White Houses
principal farm spokesman in
Congress. and Senator Holland,
Democrat of Florida were the
dlssenters.
Mr.. Eisenhower indicated at
his Wednesday news conference
that he might be undertaking
his demand for low-level sup
ports, which, il has been
are necessary to COM
plement the soil bank and hold
down overproduction.
Mr.. Cooley, chairman Of the
House Agriculture Committee,
expects to bring the meas