The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-12-14
FARM BLOC IN CONGRESS PLANS
FOR LEGISLATION OF MORE
PERMANENT CHARACTER
OPPOSITION IS FADING OUT
Outlook for Ship Subsidy Measure Is
Not So Bright and Some Republican
Senators Think the Senate Will Re-
Iect 1t.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

that the Su-called farm bloc will not
obtain all that it asks for, but 1t is
known that a great part of the oppo-
sition to such legislation has passed
away and that men known as conserv-
atiyes in the house and senate, par
tlcularly the house. have expressed
themselves quietly to the effect that
they are in accord with this financial
relief for the farming communities.
In letter recently written by Sen
ator Capper of Kansas to Aaron Saplro
from New York city, the senator says;
"As you know, myself and others on
the farm bloc in congress are engaged
In the consideration of important leg
islation on the subject of agricultural
credits. The real Importance of this
can be appreciated when it is remem'
bered that most financial methods ana
measures for government aid of the
farmer, at present in operation, are of
temporary character
"The next agricultural credits bill
passed by congress should be, and
doubtless will be, Of permanent char
acter, and should be of such a nature
as to close the books on this subject
for many years to come"
SO much for the prospect of legisla'
ton on agricultural credits as 1t
spreads itself before the Washington
vision today, but there are other things
for which the outlook is not so bright,
and of course the fact that the view IS
not sunshiny one, is grateful or non
grateful to the people of the country
as their viewpoints vary.
Doubt About ship Subsidy
At this writing it virtually is certain
that the ship subsidy bill will pass the
house of representatives and will be
sent over to the senate for action
Some Of the Republican senators who
are in favor OF the bill are willing to
say quietly that they do not think it
can be enacted into law during the
life OF the present congress. This
means that they think 1t cannot be
enacted into law at all, because 1t is
pretty well known that President Hard
ing will not urge the measure on the
congress which comes into being in
the spring.
The reason for the fear of the SEN
atorial friends of the ship subsidy
measure that it cannot pass, is the
known determination of some of the
Republicans and some of the Demo-
Gratis to block the bill at every stage
of the game, and, II it be necessary
so to do. to talk the measure to death.
This is plain statement Of the ship
subsidy bin case as 1t appears to both
Democrats and Republicans today. 1t
is. of course, possible that the Repub-
lican majority in the senate may sue
coed in putting the bill through. 1t
could put it through probably If the
rules of the senate were like those Of
the house, but in the senate, debate is
unlimited and there is no practical
way to "stop the talk"
Bills Talked to Death.
1t may be said that there are
"talked-to-Geath" presidents to which
men who nave the talking habit look
back WITH something of confidence.
The late Senator Thomas Carter Of
Montana, n good many years ago.
talked a river aud harbor bin to death.
He kent at his talking task hour after
hour. prev enting the action Of the SEN
ate by keeping the floor until noon of
March /, when congress perforce
ceased from its labors.
In the winter and spring of 1908 the
so-called Vreeland-Aldrich currency
measure was before the senate. An
attempt was made by three senators,
Stone of Missouri, Gore of Oklahoma,
and La Toilette of Wisconsin, to talk
the bill to death in the last days Of
the session. In this case the attempt
failed, but II came very near sue
ceeding and It always has been said
that It would have succeeded If Sen
ator Gore of Oklahoma were not a
blind man.
Stone, La Toilette and Gore spelled"
each other in their aborious task.
When one was talking the other two
would leave the floor for rest and
the one who had rested longest would
come back to relieve the speaker
Gore, the blind man, was talking. lie
thought that Senator Stone was in the
chamber, but Stone was not there
Gore ceased speaking and before he
realized his error the vice president
had put the matter to vote and the
bill was passed.
Holiday Season at Hand.
Republicans, Democrats, Progress.
sives, Liberals, Radicals and the 9th.
ers. IL there are any others, forget
subsidies blocs, political ambitions
personal animosites and everything
else, temporarily ut least, when the
holiday season comes TO Washington
The ''isms' from conservatism TO
radicalism take a day off on Thanks
giving, another day off On Christmas.
and still another on January first.
They probably are glad Of the re.
lease from rancor and glad to rest
their voices from singing hymns OF
hate and near-hate.
To pehuild GaIonlki.