Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-12
CONGRESSIONAL "BLOCs"
GUST PARTY LEADERSHIP
Agricultural Group Put Over
Practically Every Measure
/, Advocated.
MOST POWERFUL IN CONGRESS
Has Literally Dictated Program
Which an Unwilling Administrn-
tion was Compelled To Accept.
Fortified Ia BnrEuin for Rcsuits.
By j. Frederick E:ssnry.
Washington Correspondent OF The


| Washington Correspondent OF The
Times Dispatch
| WASHINGTON. Sept. 1.-THE ex-
tent to which Conpro sSioual "hlocs"
have supplantcd party leadership in
the House and Senate and nave
taken over legislative processes. is
indicated by the boast Of the agri-
cultural group that it has put across
practically every measure that it ad-
Nocatcd
This bloc. representing agrarian
states in the South and West and
therefore, bipartisan in it's makeup.
is the most powerful body OF legisla-
tors in Congress II the present mo-
mcnt Not only has ii so fortified IT.
self that it may bargain for results.
and bargain successfully, nut IL mas
literally dictated Il program winch an
unwilling administration ana AN m
ciectual party leadership in th'
House and Senate were compelled TO
accept.
There have been divisions and sub
divisions in the TWO branches OF Con
grcss before. 1t is no new thing Tor
insurgency TO develop or for lcgisla-
tors 10 band themselves together iii
behalf OF. or in opposition TO, Il gwen
piece of legislation.
Something New in Hoes.
But there IS something decidedly
new In the organization OF blocs, COM
posed OF Republicans and Democrats
alike who adopt Il program OF their
own designed TO benefit II single class
OF people. and who show enough
strength to put that class Legislation
over. This has actually been accom-
plishcd moreover. by the uGrarian
group, Il group which is now parad-
ing its power and pointing with pride
to It's achievements during the four
and a half months of the extra SEES
sion Of tho present Consi ess.
Senator Cappcr, OF Kansas, is n
leading figure in the agricultural
group. He helped organize 1t and Is
proud OF his part IN the business so
far transacted Republican. though
he Is. he seems to have no regrets
that farmer legislation was about all
that Congress was able to consum-
mate before it recessed The senator
has just summarized the new laws
for the rehabilitation Of the farming
industry" several OF them described
BY him as "cpochnl." These laws, nc
cording to the Cappcr statement. are:
The Sl.oo0.ooo.0O0 farm export
credit measure, which provides a loan
OF $1,000. 100000 through the War
Finance Corporation for financing the
export Of surplus farm products.
Future Trading Hiii.
The Cappcr-Tinchcr future trad
in@ bill for the regulation OF the
thirteen great grain exchanges by
hoard comprising the Secretary of
Agriculture. the Secretary of Com
| morcc and the Attorncy-Gcncral.
9TH" act placing control or tho
packing industry ana stuckyards up-
der the supervision OF 1.-The Secretary
OF Agriculture,
The AGRICULTURAL emergency tariff
bin. which undoubtedly is hclpinE
farmers at this moment
The Kenyon bin. increasing the in
tcr-st rate on bonds OF the farm loan
banks from . per cent to : IL per
cent. with no increase in tho loan rate
10 farmers, making IL possible u sell
these bonds in competition with other
securities.
''Thc Curtis .hIll, authorizing the
appropriation OF $25.O0o,o0o as n re-
Volvinr tuul for the farm loan
banks"
Not Expect Too Much.
Senator cappcr docs not want he
farmer. who is the beneficiary of this
legislative program. to expect too
much from It's enactment, however.
/ Time AS well as law, will have y"
lie relied upon to remedy some OF the
evils.
1T Is not 10 he supposed" he says,
that this new regulatory leg islation
Will maEicaliy. ana nj once. correc,
all evils amied at. The grain market
Law. for instance. does not go into e.
feet until December. ms tho exchanges
40,
for and work out the new system"
Referring TO the successful nc.
| tivities OF. the N 'icultural bloc. the
Senator says:
| I'VE can never again become ~
truly commended normal amd rros-
porous people except through better
f. in,s the condition OF American agri-
7 cu!t!ire-arsd !. has never reached 50
/ loW uh 7'bh as at this hour Today.
( there is no legislation which Will do.
rs much for the nation rs thar 10
which the AGRICULTURAL bloc in Con-
rTcss has pledged It's support ana that
To which j; already has been instru
mental in cnaC;iug. believe a ma
jority OF tho people have come 10 SOC
this and that this So the true source
OF the farm bioc's strength in Cor.
rrcsS"
There are other groups which hav"
dedicated thems elves to class lccisla-
ton as well. But. so far they have
manifested very little strength. All
q them, however, are encouraged hy
the successful fashion in which the
agriculiuriS's have brokcn down
party lines ana disrcgardcd party
leadership ana by trading with other
groups each hopes in time TO he able
to put its own program across
-- .
tN-LD C-y'rJ' rnJJErE