The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1920-12-17
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER,

Ine nOFtnWeSC returned 10 WaShlng.
ton, D. G. last. week for the open
ing Of the regular short session
determined to effect some sort of
legislation to tide the farmers Of
their districts through the present
emergency caused by the. disasterous
slump in the grain market.
A union of cotton farmers of the.
south and wheat farmers of the west
to obtain government aid against the
downward trend Of prices was effect
ed last week at a meeting held in the
Capitol of senators and congressman
representing such producers. Just
what remedy will be agreed upon is
as vet uncertain but it seems assured
that the producers will have sufficient
strength in congress to put over
constructive relief program.
Senator Calder, of New York, has
introduced resolution authorizing
the re-establishment of the War Fl
nance Corporation with power to ex-
tend credits to farmers and facilitate
export trade to Europe, including
Germany and Russia. Senator Hoke
Smith Of Georgia win offer an amend
ment to this bill to provide that the
Federal Reserve Board shall have
specific authority to rediscount the
paper of cotton and grain producers.
He believes that this will overcome
much of the difficulty which has aris-
en- from refusal of Federal Reserve
Banks to make such discounts. Other
remedies have also been suggested
and open hearings will be held, prob
ably before eioint committee, where
the matter will be thoroughly thresh-
ed out. Governor McKelvie of Ne
braska is already in Washington and
has appeared before the committee
on agriculture with detailed sugges
tions for relief.
Many men in congress- are of the
opinion that an extension of credit
will not meet the present crisis and
1.-THE State Bankers Association of
South Dakota has wired to the SEN
ators and congressman from that
state. urging them to support legisla-
tion fixing minimum price oa wheat
at certain terminals on hand at the
end of the crop wear. At any rate
representatives of the producers here
hope to remove some of the causes
for existing evils by revision of the
reciprocity clauses in certain tariff
laws. CONGRESSMAN George M. Young
secured the repeal of the Canadian
Reciprocity Act during the last ses-
sion but it was held up in the senate
owing to the peace treaty debates
and other pressing business. He will
now work to strike out the reciproc-
ity feature now in the Underwood
Act when the. Ways and Means COM
mittee, of which he is a member,
meets to revise the tariff at the spec
ial session which Harding will un-
doubtably call after March 4th.
/ In the meantime all efforts will he
concentrated toward the relief Of the
present situation. And North Dako-
ia producers should he we'll taken
care Of in whatever LEGISLATION is de-
cided upon. Senator Gronna will re-
main as chairman of the committee
on agriculture until after his present
term expires at the end of the. sixty,
sixth CONGRESS- and will have great in
fiuence in that committee to which
the senate bill win be referred.
another emergency measure that
will probably receive prompt atten-
tion is bill BY Representative John
son Of WASHINGTON which would s,,s-
pend immigration to this country, for
two years. Mr.. johnson Is chairman
OF the house committee on immirra-
ton and is considered to Be one Of
the best informed men in the country
on the alien question. n complete
analysis Of this bill may Be- given Ia
ter.
Most Of the present session how
ever will be given over to the consid-
Grafton Of the usual supply bills and
that will require plenty, of attention,
Republican leadera will not attempt
any tariff OF tax repisions probably
until after M. Harding Il "a the q
White House Ths Knox reslolution
declaring M 9 state of peace With Or.
many VIII also wait untIl thsn, afte,r,
which the new administ ration ean -
turn its attention Is the foreign plol-
lcy e g pursued ''' Tor the. coming four
tcontihusd IS P.se s,sI I1s.