The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1920-12-31

OF the bill for time but 1t Is report
ed that Senator Penrose will be back
in his old position after the holidays
and his attitude on the emergency bill
is not known.
In the Senate committee the bill
will probably be changed in some par
ticulars. For instance Senator Nc
Cumber is not satisfied with the rates
on wheat and some other articles and
will endeavor to revise the House
bill in that respect. The rate on wheat
has been fixed at thirty cents bushel,
and will not, in the opinion of the sen.
ator, afford the American growers suf-
ficient protection.
In the past it has been considered
that a protection of from ten to fifteen
cents bushel was necessary against
the dumping of Canadian wheat upon
our market. This, too, with money at
a parity. And with exchange rates as
they are at present the House bill will
not afford this much of a margin. But,
as has been said before, the bill is in
a measure compromise and there is
always the danger that the fixing of
higher rate might kill the bill.
If the emergency act is to be of
material benefit to the wheat growers
it must be passed with the least possi-
BILE delay. Even now it would seem
that much of the harm has been done
for an immense quantity of Canadian
wheat has already entered the United
States. Considering the fact that ap-
proximately 100000 bushels of
wheat came over from Canada IN the
first two weeks of December anad but
100000 bushels in the last two weeks
of the same month imports will prob
ably be lessened from now on.
A review of the work done by the
present Congress up to Christmas Day
discloses the fact that North Dakota
men have had an important hand in
legislation thus far. This is, in a
measure, due to important committee
assignments held by these men. Sen
ator Gronna, as chairman Of the Com
mittee on Agriculture, thus occupied
stragetic position in the upper body
when he presented his resolution for
the reestablishment of the War Fin
ance Corporation, and this position
aided him in his successful fight for
the adoption of the bill in the Senate.
The bill has also passed the House
and is now before the President. AS
far as tariff legislation is concerned
North Dakota is also in a position of
leadership for McCumber is now act
ing chairman of the Finance Com
mittee, while in the House George M.
Young is member of the Committee
on Ways and Means, which correspond
to the Finance Committee of the Sen
ate. AS chairman of the sub-commit-
tee on Agriculture the latter naturally
has considerable influence in the franz
ing of tariff bills as they relate to
agriculture.
Legislation of the week disclosed
little in regard to the "eoldiers bonus
bill" and it's status remains the same,
with the bill still in the Committee on
Finance. Secretary Of the Treasury
Houston has not yet completed his
testimony before the committee on the
subject and will appear before that
body again this week. Houston is
opposed to the bonus proposition but
his testimony thus far has consisted
largely Of statistical data and is not
yet complete enough to allow for
summary of his exact position en- the
five-fold bill.
Congress did not recess for the cus-
tomary Christmas period this year
owing to the amount of pressing busi-
ness to be disposed Of and merely re-
cessed from Thursday night until
Monday at noon Of this week. The
New Years vacation, too, probably
will be foregone as well and a rest
for the day only may be taken. Thus
legislative business now before the
two houses will not be materially de-
layed by the customary vacation in.
tervals as in other years and all ques-
tions will be disposed Of on schedule
time.
While many congressman from
states bordering upon and in the vicin-
ity Of the District expected to spend
the holidays at home none Of the men
from the northwest will leave the
Capital and most Of them will welcome
the brief breathing spell allowed tc
devote to their office work.
This week committee hearings in
the Senate will be resumed on the
Johnson immigration bill, recently
passed BY the House, on the Fordney
Tarf6 bill. also q House bill. the Five