Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-16
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FARM
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ers. He said he personally has
always favored the 80 per cent
of parity formula and that he
is mot yet convinced there is
ANYTHING better"
Representative Halleck Of IN
diana. q former House Repub-
lican floor leader. said the
recommendations would give
farmers greater freedom In
shifting from one crop to an
other and would provide realis-
tic price supports.
Backs Greater Freedom
Nobody, least Of all the
President. is recommending
that the Government withdraw
help to agriculture" Mr.. Hal
leck said. Controls have not
succeeded in reducing overall
agricultural production. Give
farmers more freedom of choice
and they can be counted on to
make wise decisions. Let us
not in the name of good sense
employ supports TO create new
SURPRISES.
Echoing the arguments of
Secretary Benson. the Presi-
dent told Congress I'VE must
find ways Of utilizing more
completely the abundance that
our farm people are now able
10 produce: we must find ways
of further expanding markets
for this increased product
lon. At the same time we
must help our fran people to
cope with the sometimes harsh
consequences of their own
unparalleled ability TO produce.
while preserving and strength
ening free enterprise and the
family farm"
Blames support Laws
Squirting productivity has
tipped the supply demand re-
lationShip of balance. and the
President placed much Of the
blame on "unrealistic price sup
port laws" and acreage con.
trols tthat) have failed to bring
agricultural production into
line"
Mr.. Eisenhower did not go
into detail. but Secretary Ben
son argues that high supports
encourage over-production and
price farm commodities out OF
the market. BY lowering sup
ports to competitive levels, he
contends. the Government
would help keep production
down to a volume that will be
consumed. and would expand
consumption.
furthermore, Mr.. Benson
maintains. the proposed over
haul Of farm Law would re-
duce Federal spending on sur
pluses. Surprisingly. the Presi-
dent today did not emphasize
potential savings to the tax
payer and consumer. Mr..
Benson has been angling for the
support of city voters.
The Secretary argues that In
the long run farmers will fare
better with more reliance on
free markets and less inter-
ference by the Government. l,
Even il prices decline, he rea-
sons. farmers will earn more
net income by increasing sales
volume.
Farm Bloc Fight Seen
Whatever reaction develops
IN Congress as a whole, the
farm bloc generally is expected
TO oppose the program in a
bitter election-year battle. Ru-
raj spokesman from both par +
ties charge Mr.. Benson with
purveying false economics.
They contend, for example.
that lower prices would not
necessarily cut production or
increase consumption appreci-
ably.
Mr.. Benson's foes appear to
have the strength to block his
program in the Senate and
House Agriculture Committees.
They are split, however, on
contemporaries. The adj
ministration probably will win
or lose on the House and Sen
ate floor. when the committee
bills are opened to amendment.
Many observers anticipate a
deadlock. with no major new
farm legislation this year.
Mr.. Benson mally
launches his fight tomorrow
when he testifies before the
hostile Senate Agriculture
Committee.
The President listed "indica-
tons of strength in our farm
economy" including higher
prices. income gains, rising real
estate values, a low debt-to-
assets ratio. record exports. de-
clining surplus stocks. expand
ed research and education. and
strengthened BARGAINING power