The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-02-14
Three Farm
Relief Bills
in Congress
Norris for One Export Plan,
McNary Another-Norbeck
Measure to Stock Farms
Strongly Supported.
Senate to. Take Lead
BY P. c. POWELL.

= by 4. 4. fOWEl1l,
' Washington Correspondent The Omaha bee
Washington, Feb. 13.-Farm relief
measures, sidetracked in the public
eye since Teapot Dome has been boil
ing, are still under daily considera-
ton by the house and senate agri-
cultural committees.
For weeks the McNary- -Haugen ex-
port corporation bill has been the
subject of hearings in both the house
AND senate committees. 1t has met
With commentator and condemna-
ton from various and sundry forces
and In the opinion of all must be
amended in many particulars before
1t can gain sufficient support for
passage.
The same facts are true concerning
the Norris Sinclair bill, the apple of
the eye OF persons favoring extensive
and almost immediate entrance into
cooperative marketing of farm prod
ucts, aided by governmental money.
Hearings on this bill are practically
at an end.
Hearings to End Soon.
In the next week or two it Is ex-
pected the senate committee, IL not
the house committee, will close hear
ings on both bills and begin delibera-
tions asto the attitude to be shown
by the committee in sending one, or
both, or neither Of the two bills out
for consideration at this session.
Even those most familiar with COM
nlittee action are loath to predict the
future Of these two relief bills.
Tho truth, admitted by nearly
everyone. is that considerable jeal-
ousy and antagoilism exists between
exponents of the Norbeck $4,000. 900
wheat relief and s25,000, 900 cotton
relief bill and the McNary- -Haugen
bill. To date the Norbeck crowd has
been in the lead and has Its bill out
Of committee In the hands of Senator
Ladd, who promises to bring 1t be-
FIRE the senate for consideration as
soon as the vapor from the Teapot
Dome scandal clears away.
Approved by Coolidge.
However, the McNary- -Burtness
crowd has delivered some telling
blows and has developed unexpected
strength throughout the northwest
in the last two weeks. This group
had sufficient power to force con-
sideration of the bill on President
Coolidge at the recent farm relief
meeting Of bankers and railroad men
In the face of a program which ex-
.luded recommendation of nothing
except the Norbeck bill.
1t Is generally supposed to have
the favor Of Secretary Of Agriculture
Wallace. In fact, it follows closely
his recommendation in a recent re-
port in which he urged an export
corporation similar to that proposed in
the bill. 1t has staunch supporters
in the senate committee who are in
sistently demanding that 1t be pushed
out Of committee for consideration on
the floor.
Expect Compromise.
Meantime, there always Is the Nor
ris-Sinclair bill to be considered. 1t,
too, has supporters in the committees.
However, its author, Senator Norris,
announced when he reintroduced the
bill at the beginning Of the session he
hardly believed 1t would be passed In
its entirety but believed its popular
= ity In certain quarters would force a
compromise bill of value to farmers.
Hence, likelihood that when the
committee begine considering a bill
10 be reported, out of a coalition be-
tween the Norris and McNary forces
a compromise will come that may
prove to be Of untold relief to agricul-
ture.
Norbeck Bill the Limit.
Last 70 be considered is the fact
that the Norbeck bill has the jump on
all. It is out of committee. 1t has
been whole heartedly endorsed by the
administration. It's authors have
democratic support due TO their ac.
ceptance of an amendment by Sena-
tor Pat Harrison OF Mississippi, loan
ing $4,000. 900 additional to cotton
growers on the same terms as the
$50, 1000 900 Is to be loaned to wheat
men for purchase Of livestock for di-
versified farming.
On many sides is heard the report
that passage of the Norbeck bill Is
AZ far as certain eastern and south
ern members will go in the way of
farm relief at this time.
The house agricultural committee
IL showing a tendency 10 pursue q
policy of holding hearings on all OF
these relief measures and then await
ing action by the senate before taking
action on any Of the three bills.