THE CONGRESS: New Mood & New Bill

Summoned to their desks two hours ahead of schedule one day last week to consider the farm bill, U.S. Senators encountered an ultimatum from Lyndon Johnson: the majority leader expected final action on the measure by day's end. Ten hours later Johnson had his way. By voice vote the Senate approved a bill that is expected to fit easily with an earlier House bill.

The quick action was solid evidence that the mood of Congress has changed since President Eisenhower vetoed the first farm bill last month. Prodded by mail from home, Congressmen have been seeking the quickest approach to a bill the President will sign. The Senate bill, which has the qualified approval of Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson, contains many of the provisions the President had hoped for when his veto sent Congress back for another try. However, it fails him on some points, e.g., although it would create a $1.2 billion soil bank, it would not provide any payments this year to pump cash into the farm economy.

Administration spokesmen in the Senate predicted that President Eisenhower will sign the new version.