The New York herald., 1922-01-16
Senate Leaders Alarmed
and Are Puzzled Over How
to Meet Situation.
CLASS DICTATIoN FEARED
Rural Group Said to Have
Alternate Plans to Sat-
isfy Harding.
sseoia, Dispatch 20 THE NEW Ycrx Hrx.rp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID O. Ian IK

Special DsspatcA 20 THE NEW Yrx Hrx.rp
New York Herald Bureau
Washington. ID. c., Jan. Ib
There viii be another test Of strenrt,
OF the agricultural bloc Tuesday wher
the resolution authorizing and direct.
/ ing the President to name q mar
Z whose business and experience is tha,
# farming" a member of the Fedora
Reserve Board when the next vacancy
occurs comes up for consideration.
In spite Of efforts on the part oi
President Harding to have the leaders
Of tte bloc amend the resolution SC
hat his appointing powers would no,
be restricted, and his promise 70 give
1ue consideration to tho claims OF the
farmers IN filing the next vacancy on
the board, they have shown no dis
position to yield to his request.
The fact is. instead of being repentant
the bloc seems to be more determined to
| carry through its program, 'f it is not
actually defiant.
Alarm fn Senate.
Senate leaders are alarmed over the
attitude OF the agriculturalists In that
body and admit they are at loss to
know how to meet the situation. They
see danger in granting to the farmers OF
the country privileges as a class sep
arate and distinct from the other groups
of the population.
So far the Senate has made marked
concessions TO the farmers because of
the insistence Of the bloc, but the leaders
feel that the time has come to call
halt. They point TO the fact that Con-
gress only. recently granted the farmers
exemption from the antitrust laws 10
that thsy could organize a cooperative
marketing syetem- Again the farmers
want a general reduction In freight rates
and more flexible rural credits legisla-
ton
While the Administration leaders have
agreed upon n definite program and hope
to dispose Of the many vital matters
now pending In Congress at an early
date. they realize that much depends
upon the attitude of the bloc. For that
reason they are disposed TO make rea-
sonable concessions to the agricultural
ists. Al the same time they are fearful
OF establishing bad precedents.
senator Curtfs's Position.
The fact that Senator Curtis CKan.) },
the Republican whip. comes from an ag-
u
ment, since he cannot be too active in
blocking the bloc for fear Of a political
I'll reback from his own State
Not only Is the bloc persistent in forc-
ing through Congress class legislation as
mentioned. but within the last few days
l. has taken an active interest in die
tnting TO the Senate Finance Committee
tariff schedules on all articles affecting
the agricultural interests OF the country
Senator Gooding 0daho) openly ad-
rnits that ne Is the chairman of a mon
partisan agricultural group" and the
spokesman for the Southern Tariff AS
sociation. survey elbows that Senator
Gooding's group consists largely, " not
entirely. Of the same members of the
Senate which compose the bloc of which
Senator Kenyon Iowa) 10 the chairman.
In the fight Tuesday 70 force the Pres
Federal Reserve Board the AGRICULTURAL
West will line up with the cotton grow
ers OF the South, and all political lines
win be swept aside The Administration
leaders may force the adoption Of the
Kellogg amendment which provides for
| the sdditiou of another member 20 the
| Federal Reserve Board. with the promise
that In filling the place due coneidera-
ton will be given by the President 10 the
claims of the farmer.
WASHINGTON. Jan l5.--Agreement ia
been reached by leaders Of the Senate
agricultural bloc on two plans designed
to remove objections held by President
Harding 70 legislation proposing a
farmer representative on the Federal Re-
serve Board. These plans are expected
to be presented to the White House so
that the President may Indicate his pref
erence. which then will become the &C.
ceptcd solution Of the Senators support
ing the legislation.
The FIRST " the two suggestions said
20 have been adopted after a series OF
informal conferences yesterday and to-
day among the bloc leaders. was that the
proposed statute be changed to give
nnembership on the board 10 representa-
tives OF tho several phases OF national
Industrial and commercial effort. The
second would abolish any epecinc desig-
nation ~ 10 the makeup Of the board
which now must include two member.
OF banking experience. and .eave the rep
rssentation 10 the authority holding the
appointing power.
There did not eeem 20 have been a
DEFINITE understanding among tho bloc
lenders whether they would press their
original demand that the board member
ship be Increasen ~ one to take care Of
the farmer member
This plan wac contained In the orig
inal Kellogg bill. but the Smith amend
ment altered II somewhat, and specified
that the farmer member should be Sc
lected TO oil tie irst vacancy
Further 60 erences on the proposals
appeared likely tomorrow to get as near
70 rock bottom basis as possible be-
fore the Senate convenes. at which time
the proposed lesislation Is slated to be
taken up under the unanimous consent
l agreement entered into prior 20 the
Christmas recess. No formal draft OF
either plan has been made n was said
tonight, but the leaders declared they
| had their views so well IN mind that
they could put their IDEAS into legisla-
/ two shape at a moments notice. One