Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-13
MAY SIDETRACK
MARINE BILL To
ADOPT MEASURE
TO AID FARME RS
Indications Are Strong in
the Senate That the Sub
Sidy Proposal May Soon
Be Laid Aside
HARDING IS SAID TO
OPPOSE SUCH A MOVE
Believes the Matter Should
Be Disposed of Before
Any Other Legislation Is
Attempted

Washington, Dec. 12.--Prompt
enactment Of the administration
shipping bill was urged in the sem
ate and at the White House today
but at the same time indications
grew stronger that the measure
might soon be laid aside by the
senate in favor of rural credits leg
islation.
Developments in connection with
these two major pieces Of legisla-
tion came thick and fast at the
senate wing OF the capitol and We're
supplemented by the declaration at
the White House that President
Harding believed the merchant
marine measure should be disposed
of before any other legislation was
taken up by the senate. The pres
ident, it was further asserted, held
the view that the country was enti-
tied to have a decision with respect
10 the measure without undue de-
lay.
Jones Supports Bill
Almost simultaneously with tins
declaration was the announcement
by Senator Jones, Washington in
charge of the shipping bill that he
would agree to lay aside his meas
ure temporarily should advocates
of rural credits legislation be able
10 bring before the senate bill in
which there was considerable de-
gree of unanlmity. He added later
in the day in the course OF an cN-
tended address in behalf or the
shipping bill--the opening state-
ment for proponents Of the mer-
chant marine measure - that
there Is no legislation we can pass
except possibly a rural credits bin
that will benefit the farmers more
than this bill to afford transporta-
ton across the ocean for their pro-
ducts
The announcement by Senator
Jones of his willingness TO lay
aside temporarily the shipping bill
was preceded by series Of confer
ences between democratic and re-
publican opponents of the ship
measure, during which the strong
er advocates of arm relief legis-
lation in both parties were enlisted
in the support OF proposal that q
motion be made as soon as ruraI
credits bill was reported from COM
mittee, to take UP the farm meas
ure and to displace the merchant
marine legisl tion. Senator Fletch-
err Of Florida, ranking democrat on
the commerce committee, leaders
of the farm bloc, and Senators ia
Toilette OF Wisconsin and Brook
hart of Iowa, republican members
of the new progressive bloc, con-
Quoted these conferences and to-
night announced that they had So
senators, or considerably more
than a majority, to support the
move.
Hearings Are Held
How soon the move might be
made was n question tonight, al
though rural credits legislation was
much TO the fore about the senate
throughout the day. The banking
and currency committee, to which
most of the half dozen or more
rural credits bills have been refer
red, began consideration of the
measures before it with the hear
ing of some of the proponents. Fur
+her hearings will be held tomor-
row and it was indicated that 1t
probably would be ten days or two
weeks before a measure could be i
reported.
The agriculture committee, which
also is considering credit, legisla-
tion, heard additional members Of
a delegation from the northwest
ern states upon the Norris bill to
NNtnf ~ q nj f,t liHn1 n
to buy and sell farm
products. The witnesses strongly
endorsed the Ladd bill, dee airing
its enactment must go hand in
hand with passage Of credit legisla-
ton IL the farmers of the north
west We're to be benefited.
Kelly Makes Charges
Late in the day hearings were
enlivened by charges by former
Representative Kelly of North Da-
kota, that the Chicago board of
trade has contributed 100000 to-
ward tho organization of the Amer
ican Farm Bureau federation, one
of the largest of the various farm
ers' associations. The witness ac-
cused j. r. Howard president, and
Gray Silver, legislative representa-
tive of the federation. of "misrep- |
resenting the farmers" belonging to
the organization. |
Rural credits legislation also was
taken UP again at q meeting OF the
senate farm bloc tonight. Mem |
bers of the bloc have been trying to
agree on definite measure but
leaders indicate that owing to diff
ferences OF opinion the bloc would |