Show i lite Yawn ae R J e in WASHINGTON a By Walter Waller Shead Corr nl nt Washington Wahington Bureau 1616 Eye Ey St. St N N. W. W Which Way Will Prices Of Farm Products Go JANUARY 11 Agriculture ON Secretary Clinton P. P Anderson spoke before the Die American National Livestock association convention In Denver on New Frontiers for the Livestock Industry He outlined a production program of 23 billion pounds of meat this year that's 20 pounds more per Capita than was I consumed in 1945 But Jut In that same speech Mr 1 An An- Anderson Anderson derson revealed Ills his plans for removal re- re moval of meat subsidies on oh cattle calves calvE's sheep and lambs Iambs by June JUlie 30 of this year yar Ten days later President Truman in his bis message to congress on the state of the Union gave his reasons why food subsidies subsidies dies must be continued beyond June Juno 30 1916 and If the time reaction of farm leaders here In Washington to the Presidents President's recommendation reflects the feelings of the rank and file tile of farmers throughout the country then that's bad for the farmers For nil all these leaders are opposed to sub sub- subsidy subsidy subsidy sidy as a principle and particular particular- particularly ly to extension of subsidies as a II means of holding down food rood prices to consumers Subsidies Unpopular Dairy farm leaders are especially hostile to the Presidents President's recommendation Charles W W. Holman secretary of 01 the National opera Co Cooperative tive Milk Producers federation pointed to what he called the In Incongruity In- In Incongruity incongruity congruity in the administrations administration's recommendations for a wage in increase In- In Increase increase crease to Industrial groups on the theone theone theone one hand and on the other hand for federal grants to subsidize their grocery bills The one is an Inflationary Inflationary inflationary move for the benefit of ur ur- urban urban ur- ur urban ban groups The other Is a the hold line edict to the detriment of agri agri- agriculture agriculture agriculture culture and is in itself just as in in- While those close to the secre secre- secretary secretary secretary tary declared that Mr Andersons Anderson's whole position for or elimination of ot subsidies depended on favorable fac fac- factors factors factors tors which are not now in the eco eco- economic economic economic picture it is said Mr Ander Ander- Anderson son is going along with his chief as asa asa asa a good soldier Whether congress will accede to the Presidents President's policy on continua continua- continuation continuation continuation tion of the subsidies which farm leaders contend will mean that farmers will continue as wards of at atthe the government for years to come remains to be seen So far for con con- congress congress congress gress has paid little or no attention a to the Presidents President's recommendations with the exception of his for for- foreign foreign foreign eign policy Furthermore there Is little reason to believe that congress will listen to Mr Truman now any any- anymore anymore anymore more than they have in the past un un- unless unless unless less an aroused public opinion forces their hand Farmers however can be thank thank- thankful thankful ful to the President for the fact that because he refrained from declaring declaring declarIng ing an official end to the War prior to the first of the year their parity prices are guaranteed by the gov gov- government government government until the end of 1948 1918 three years from now Price Support to Stay And now unless congress goes back on Its word all farm prices under the bill must be sup sup- supported supported supported ported at 90 per cent of cent of parity for 1948 1946 1947 and 1948 for the law fixed these prices in force until two years after atter January 1 following the date of such a declaration by the tile President President President dent or by congress congress So such com com- commodities commodities commodities as hogs eggs chickens milk butterfat dry dry- peas and beans soybeans etc will get the benefit Regarding these th se prices time tile Pres President President ident In fits pia ls message message said The first obligation of or the government to ag ag- agriculture agriculture ag- ag for the peri peri- period period period od Is to make malic good on Its sup price port commitments This we Intend to do with realistic consideration for forthe forthe forthe the sound patterns of production that t will contribute most to the long long- longtime longtime time tinge welfare of agriculture and the whole nation So it appears that OPAs OPA's Mr Bowles stands to win out in the bout with Anderson over subsidies if It congress supports the President Bowies Bowies' contention was that subsidy removal will Increase food prices and that's what happened Butter Butteris is an example Anderson felt relt nat nat- natural natural natural ural laws of supply sup pi and demand should gradually govern prices So far congress has evaded taking a stand on any controversial question affecting but it ap ap- appears appears pears the solons salons on the Hill will be forced to vote one way or another on this question before June 30 30 when the price control act is scheduled to pass out of existence The belief here generally is that it will be extended for tor at a t least six months The President asks a year I I I Mr 11 Anderson says that repeal of subsidies on commodities which al- al already al already ready have been announced will stand however As an alt example sub sub- sidles on some types of cheese were lifted on February 1 1 With market prices well above the subsidy levels there is obviously no need of bolster bolstering tag ing prices of dairy products It Is ex expected petted that prices on butter cheese j I I etc will remain high for or a long lon I time considering the present nation nation- national al income level |