The Washington herald., 1921-07-31
Senate Has Rough Sailing.

II corporation bill and the Willis Campbell sup
Elementary prohibition bill to restrict beer
prescriptions both of which measures have been
ming parallel. gave the Senate hard and nearly
fruitless week Defeat of the Norris bill became APP
parent Thursday, when the second Of two substitutes
was offered The FIRST of the substitutes was pre-
sened by Senator Kellogg. Of Minnesota, Tuesday,
few minutes before special message of President
Harding laid before the Senate, asking that the
powers OF the War Finance Corporation be extended
to purchase railroad securities, probably up $780,
100000, now in the hands Of the railway administra-
tion. Whereas the Norris bill would create $780,
100000 corporation to buy and sell abroad farm sur
pluses. the Kellogg amendment would strike out all
its provisions and place the business of finding
eign markets for farm products in the hands Of the
War Finance Corporation. The second substitute
was presented by Senator McNary 1t doubled the
bond issue authorization of the Finance Corporation
from one to two billions to give the corporation
greater credit fund. The committee also added an
amendment authorizing the War Finance Corpora
ton to extend export credit to producers we'll
bankers and exporters and provision authorizing
loans direct to foreign governments which should
buy from this country. .
The Kellogg farm credits bill was an administra-
ton measure so difereHt from the Norris bill as to
split in the agricultural bloc" of the Senate.
The Agricultural Committee, which had been solid"
for Norris BILL reported ten to two in favor of
the alternate plan Of putting the War Finance Cor
poraton in charge of the farm explorations, so
closely allied with its regular affairs.
President Harding's message was plea for the
railroads, but also asked legislation authorizing the
War Finance Corporation to increase credit for
financing agricultural exports TINS sounding knell
to the Norris plan of special farm export corpora
tion, >,.s 3. s
The Republican Steering Committee Of the SEN
took steps Thursday to further expedite admins
traton measures by deciding to take UP the Tncher
Capper bill to curb speculation in grain markets as
the antibeer bill could be disposed of. Sena-
tor Sterling, of South Dakota, made plea Wednes-
day for swifter action upon the prohibition measure,
and indication at that time was. that it might be
finally acted upon Monday. >.t
TN Strong attack upon the Norris bill, Senator
Il Kellogg said the distress of the farmers Of the
nation such as to warrant the government
in going almost as far in wartime. His chief OBJ
jeetion to the Norris BILL he said, the provision
which would make the government agency for
buying and selling farm products. He cited the
appalling losses and waste in government opera
ton Of the railroads and the Shipping Board and de-
cared that If the Norris bill should be enacted it
would out as these experiments of government
in business had and would not be in the interest of
the farmers ~ s-s'-'-,
The most important committee work of the Sen
ate probably was that of the Finance Committee, Of
which Senator Penrose is chairman considering the
tariff bill American valuation the basis for fixing
customs duties was tho hrst matter to be taken up
Senator's, while admitting that the plan would be
permental declared that il offered solution of the
problem of collecting proper tax in the face of
chaotic foreign exchange conditions '., 20 Z.
Col Charles r. Forbes, War Risk Insurance D-
rector. appeared before the special committee invests
eating soldier relief He said the soldiers home at
Johnson City. Tenn, was mad house" and the
hospital At Fort McHenry. Nd, ft for Sewage
disposal plant" Surgeon General Hugh E. Cummings
III he fire nm nffav he in
hosptalinatioh was caused by Congress, the War
Department and the supervising architect
The Senate accepted the credentials of T. Cole
man du Pont as. Senator from Delaware to succeed
Josiah Walcott, and in Wednesday
The bill making the Secretary Of Agriculture