The people's voice., 1958-08-15
Repr. Leroy Anderson
Reports To You From
The Nations CapitoI

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Farm leg
islation is entering the realm of in
ternational power politics in the way
it is being treated this session of
Congress. 1t is cold, ruthless battle
between various forces, political and
regional. AT noon of the day we were
to consider the most recent House
farm bill, messenger from the Of
flee of the Secretary of Agriculture
delivered to each congressional of
flee what was tantamount to a de-
mand that his personal Senate farm
bill be approved and that the House
bill be killed. On the vote following,
the House turned down a farm bill
recommended unanimously by its full
Committee on Agriculture. The floor
vote was a straight partisan Givi-
sion in effect, 38 Democrats voting
against the measure and 38 Republi-
cans for, leaving the major party
forces revealed: 172 Democrats for
and 148 Republicans against. Because
the vote was on rule requiring
two-thirds majority, the measure was
killed.
Included in the bill killed was The
extension of the National Wool Act
so vital to our Montana industry. I
am still hopeful, but family so. that
some form of farm legislation may
be enacted in the few remaining days
of this session. Those of us who rep
resent farm districts are gravely con-
cerned by the emergence of a new
kind of farm bloc" headed by the
Agriculture Secretary, the big-city
and the cotton and rice
men.
Profits Soar-While Montana and
the nations farm income drops, major
food store chains report soaring
profits Largest of these, the huge
APP, had net sales totaling $4.8
billion for the year ending February
% along with 21 per cent increase
in profits. By comparison, the gain
in dollar sales was up only 6 per cent,
indicating considerable markup in
profit margins. Other major chains
ldu cOHpdFdDIe gains.
Professors seek further gains. They
nave forced upon growers cutbackS
n this summers production, and they
hereby hope for a better profits ;
margin. Thus the burden of scarcity {
program is put upon the farmers and {
he consumer public while the pro- !
,essors pocket the gains as a result {
If anticipated raises in prices on f
AIMED fruits and vegetables. Mean c
While, bankruptcies in small busi- @
lesses, many of them corner grocery
torres. were at a record level last
ear and are expected to increase this
ear.
Alaska Investment - Development
apital is looking eagerly for open
ngs in the new State of Alaska. De- z
of the 1885 million acres :
f federal land going to state owner
hip and thence to private ownership f
the goal Such big money, particu- o
arly from insurance companies, is
lready starting north. 1t is attracted D
Y the higher rate of interest, 6 per V
ent, and commercial loans which are
ct to be repaid within five years. A 6
ood return or expected return is .
bout 20 per cent on most invest . "
tents. according to one prominent % >,
laskan real estate developer. First VI VI
ales of land in the 1885 millionaire l
'ansfer probably will be handled
trough the new states land offices. h
Area Redevelopment = Starting Sc
lis Wednesday, the House will con- III
der the Area Redevelopment Act, ell
,ncerning which our Committee on pt
anking and Currency has been hold &C
g extensive hearings. On February gs
1857, introduced a companion st
easure to this Senate bill, and on tn