Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-08-02 | Page 2 | Price Curb Bill Hits Farm Snag

PRICE CURB BILL HITS FARM SNAG WASHINGTON August 2 1 JA IP J- J A price fixing bill which would affect every American pocketbook began running into objections Saturday Saturday Sat Sat- immediately after its Introduction Introduction Introduction In In- In congress The legislation presented In both the senate and house Friday would authorize the president to fix price ceilings for commodities and rents but would give him no authority over wages or utility rates and would grant special treatment to farm commodities Some far farm state legislators expressed expressed ex ex- pressed discontent with the measure measure meas meas- ure tire as it stood The bill designates the price level on last Tuesday July 29 as one to which the chief executive should give due consideration in infixing infixing infixing fixing other price limits The president president president pres pres- ident however could make adjustments adjustments adjustments ad ad- to compensate for speculative speculative speculative spec spec- fluctuations changes in cost of production or transportation tion and similar factors I Presidents President's Powers He would be empowered to establish price ceilings fix rents in designated defense areas where rents had increased ased 10 per cent since last August 31 to eliminate and prevent profiteering and to protect persons with relatively fixed and limited incomes He could require licenses for eng engaging ging g- g ging ing in transactions covered by the measure except that he could not compel licenses for distribution of newspapers periodicals books and other printed matter Although sponsors of the bill made a minute last-minute concession to the farm bloc senators from front agricultural agricultural agricultural agri agri- cultural states indicated they were not satisfied The farm provision would prohibit the president from establishing any price ceiling below per cent of parity prices or below the market price last July 29 Urges Higher Scale Parity prices are such as would give farmers the equivalent income income income in in- come from their products in terms of other commodities as the products products prod prod- would have brought during a designated base period in most cases V 1909 Agriculture spokesmen had urged a minimum of per cent of parity Senator Taft R. R Ohio said he would offer an amendment to re require require require re- re quire that the legislation be administered administered ad ad- ministered by a board