Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-16

grams and the Soil Bank are
to achieve their purpose.
Fifth: The overall range
within which price supports
may be provided should be
substantially widened. Present.
liy. price supports must bel
provided by rigid formula for
cotton. wheat. corn. rice. pea
nuts. tobacco and dairy prod
ucts between rs and 90 per
cent Of parity. This range Is
too narrow TO permit the
growth. Of markets needed TO
absorb the production which,
despite acreage controls. our
farms appear certain 70 pro-.
duce. Price supports for the
bove- a m e d commodities
should be determined admin
istratively between so per cent
and 90 per cent Of parity. using
the eight guidelines now pro-
vided by law for practically oil
other commodities. This needed
change in price-support policy
would open the door to
market expansion, increased
acreage allotments and greater
freedom to produce.
For commodities like the feed
grains. with respect to which
the Secretary Of Agriculture
has had wide discretion In the
past. price support has been
offered at levels as high as
could be justified under the
criteria specified by law. This
will be the Secretary's practice
under the recommended legis-
| lation.
Sixth: Price supports for cot
ton should be based on the
average quality of the crop.
For cotton the law specifies
that supports must be based on
q grade that Is far below the
average quality. The law
should be corrected TO put cot
ton price supports on the same
basis as for all other crops.
/ Seventh: The membership
Of the Commodity Credit Cor
poration Advisory Board should
be enlarged and the Boards
responsibilities increased. The
recommended changes in de-.
terming acreage allotments
and price support levels will
make additional administrative
discretion a necessity. To as
sist the Secretary OF Agricul-
ture in exercising this discre-
ton. the bipartisan Commod-
ity Credit Corporation Advisory
Board should be increased In
number from five TO seven.
Members should be appointed
by the President as at present,
but with confirmation by the
Senate. The Board should ad-
wise the Secretary regarding
the establishing Of price sup
ports. determining Of acreage
allotments and related subjects.
Eighth: The Agricultural
Trade Development and As
sistance Act should be extend
ed. This law Is one the major
authorities for moving surplus
commodities. The law should
be extended for one year with
an additional SIS billion au-
thorized for sales for foreign
currencies. But 1t must not.
however. be allowed to become
q device 10 postpone needed
production and price ADJUST
ments The extension should
be limited TO one year to give
Congress the opportunity for
annual review.
Ninth: Research efforts aimed
at increasing industrial uses Of
farm products should be ex-
banded. Our farms and forests
are a major source Of our raw
materials. To a greater degree
than at present. these raw ma
terials can be used in industry.
thereby broadening markets
for our abundant farm prod
ucts. New uses and new mar
kets can be developed for our
surplus crops. To bring this
about. increased utilization re-
search is needed and is pro-
posed in the Budget Message.
This will be moving in the di-
rection recommended by the
Presidents Commission on
Increased Industrial Use OF
Agricultural Products.
In addition TO the nine steps
outlined here. the Congress
should. as recommended in the
Budget Message Ia extend the
National Wool Act, tbl con-
tinue the special school milk
program. tc) broaden the
sources Of funds for the Rural
Electrification Administration,
I'D require State participation
in programs to relieve the
effects OF drought or other
natural disaster. and te) i'm
prove conservation accomplish I
ment by restricting cost shar-
ing to those practices which
achieve longer lasting conser-
walton benefits.
These several recommended
tons constitute a farm, food
and fiber program which will
assist our farmers to adjust TO
today's rapidly changing econ
omy. 1t is a progress program
that can make a substantial
contribution to the we'll being
Of Americas farm families.
CAPITOL DINERS
HEAR PLEA FOR