The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1921-08-05


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9' WARDWELL 8 THOMPSON Pubs,
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER
Exclusive to tho Pioneer Express)
House members from North Da-
kota, South Dakota and Minnesota
last week petitioned the Interstate
Commerce Commission for reduc-
tion in freight rates. The petitions
were presented by a committee
composed Of Representatives Burt
ness and Sinclair Of North Dakota,
and Newton and Clague Of Mime
sofa.
Following the conference with
the commission, Congressman Burt
ness stated that in his opinion, judi
ging from the impression conveyed
to the committee by Chairman
Clark, a reduction in freight rates
upon grains and hay was to be ex-
pected, perhaps within the next few
weeks. He added that reduction
might also be made in rates upon
sand, gravel, and crushed stones,
such as would be used in roadbuild-
ing.
The congressman also requested
the commission to 60 into the mat
ter Of coal rates and while Mr..
Clark promised that this would be
given consideration, those attending
the interview came away with the
idea that no reduction in freight
rates on coal was likely to be made
before spring. In discussing the
situation Congressman Burtness
said that in his judgement people
living in the Northwest would gain
nothing by postponing the buying
Of the winters fuel in the hope
that reduction in rates would be
made as the attitude Of the Com
merce Commission in this regard
was anything but encouraging.
The Senate Committee on Agri-
culture on Thursday voted to dis
place the Norris bill, providing for
the creation of a $1QO,0OO,0O0 COR
poration for the exporting Of farm
products, in favor of another mea-
sure said to be less likely to invite
President Harding's veto. The or
iginal Norris bill was strongly op-
posed by the Treasury Department,
and administration officials gener-
ally.
A dramatic touch was added to
the fight when Senator Norris, the
chairman of the committee, and au-
thor of the bill, collapsed in the
cloakroom after a bitter denouncia-
tion Of the tactics Of the adminis-
tration, in which he vigorously at
tackled many officials high in the
administration. The substitute mea-
sure, introduced by Senator Kel-
logg, Of Minnesota, caused split
in the so-called agrarian bloc, COM
posed of a bipartisan group Of Sem
ators from agricultural states, and
when the deciding vote was taken
in the committee, Senator Ladd Of
North Dakota was the only man
who stayed with Norris in support
Of the original bill.
The Kellogg substitute was sup
posedly framed by Secretary Hoov-
er and Eugene Meyer, director of
the War Finance Corporation.
However as it now stands the bill
likely to receive favorable action il
q combination Of the two proposals,
the agrarian senator's refusing to
sanction certain Of the features
proposed by the administration,
substituting for them clauses from
the Norris bill. The principal fea-
ture Of the Kellogg bill, directing
the War Finance Corporation to
perform the functions proposed in
the MOTIFS Dill, was retained.
The efforts Of certain leaders to
induce Congress to take . recess is
being opposed by this same agri-
cultural bloc and they have already
been successful in having the Steer
ing Committee add two more inn
portant measures to the legislative
program for the present session.
The meaures are the Capper-Tin-
cher bill, to regulate grain ex-
changes, and the Kenyon bill to give
the farmers representation IN regu-
lating the national banking ma
chinery by making the Secretary Of
Agriculture 2 member Of the Fed
eral Reserve Board. The two bills,
the Steering COMMITTEES has decid.