The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1922-03-02
WASHINGTON NEWS
LETTER H..
By PARKE.H: IA MOORE


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The McCumber bill appropriating
S., 100000 for feed and seed grain for
farmers in crop-failure areas is now
before the House committee on Ag-
riculture. Gilbert Haugen of Iowa
is chairman of this committee while
North Dakota's representative on Ag-
riculture is James H. Sinclair, whose
district will be most effected by this
legislation. The bill particularly APP
plies to districts in the Dakotas and
Montana, and will probably benefit
North Dakota more than either Of the
other states mentioned.
The entire North Dakota delega-
ton in the House will support this
bill. ,
The McCumber bill received quick
action in the House. Senators Nc
Cumber and Ladd of North Dakota,
and Walsh of Montana appeared be-
fore the Senate Agricultural commit
tee in favor of prompt action and the
bill was reported to the Senate by
Senator Ladd, as member of the
committee, with the unanimous ap-
proval Of the committee. Both
North Dakota senators supported the
bill on the floor and it was passed
without record vote. A.
The situation will be less favorable
in the House of Representatives when
it IS reported from the Agricultural
committee. Small appropriations Of
this kind come out Of the Senate as
a rule without much opposition if
sponsored by senators familiar with
the local situation where the relief
is to be expended. In the House
the membership as whole is more
inclined to question the policy Of bills
Of this kind and when the bill comes
before the full House a lively debate
is likely to ensue. This was the case
in the last congress when a similar
bill was passed for relief of drought
areas in Montana and North Dakota.
The bill passed the Senate after a
brief debate and ran into snag in
the House where it met with spirited
opposition. This was the memorable
occasion when John M. Baer, then
congressman from the first district,
did not appear to speak for his state,
although challenged to do so by Royal
johnson of South Dakota. The bill
eventually passed but only after an
able defense by Young and Sinclair,
the other North Dakota representa-
tives.
1t is believed that the McCumber
relief bill will pass the House, how
ever, for review of the situation
seems to favor such action. The fact
that the last loan has been repaid
in but few instances will of course
hamper the present bill to some ex-
tent.
The Sinclair bill to revive the Unit
ed States Grain Corporation, coupled
with fixed price on staple crops, is
hanging fire, in the House committee.
The rise in wheat has created an adj
verse psychology where sentiment had
seemed rather favorable q week or
two previous but favorable action
may yet be taken. Exponents of the
Legislation are divided, some being in
clined to await more favorable time
for pushing the bill, others Of the
opinion that the matter should be set
tied at once. Growers continue to
petition action, although there has
been decrease in such demands dur
ing the present week.
The soldiers bonus bill, now before
the Ways and Means committee, is
giving the legislators plenty of food
for thought. Chairman Fordney is
an ardent advocate of adjusted COM
pensation and other committee men,
bers are taking various stands, more
or less friendly. George M. Young,
North Dakota's member is for the
bill. The revenue question however,
L iS thp chief cameo FOR Tho v,roa<,,,f= d0.