San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09
FARM RELIEF
LEGISLATION
IN NICE MESS
Danger That Nothing of
Value Will Be Ac-
complished.
HAVE MANY PLANS
Opposition Crystalizes
Against McNary-Hau-
gen Bill.
By DAVID LAWRENCE

Copyright by The San Antonio Light
Washington, ID. C., March S.-Leg-
islation 10 relieve the economic dis
tress of agriculture which TO the West
is ut least Of paramount Importance
and may vitany affect the political
battle Of 1924, has gotten into a
clumsy jam.
The so-called farm bloc in Congress
Is at skies and sevens. All sorts Of
measures intended, of course, sincerely
to be helpful, are on the calendar,
hut the outlook at present is that no
one of them will command majority
and unless the champions Of the farm
or nut their heads together there is
danger that nothing OF value will be
accomplished.
In the last few days opposition has
crystalized against the McNary-
Haugen bill. The protests are coming
not only from the farmers cooperative
organizations but from milling inter-
ests. A body blow was delivered at
the bill by Representative Sidney An
derson of Minnesota one OF the most
ardent supporters of the farmers IN
terest in Congress and a man who has
the confidence Of the so-called radicals.
Mr.. Anderson says the proposed
measure is unavoidable and imprac-
ticable" and that the farmer Will be
the greatest sufferer from its imposi-
ton should it become law"
rTIl- n
plicated affair which even Mr.. An
derson admits is plausible. 1t pro-
vides that the price of one or niore
of certain specified farm products
namely wheat. flour, corn, raw cotton.
vol, cattle, sheep and swine, any of
their food products be maintained by
government action at price level cor
responding TO the price level of all
commodities.
Milling Interests Complain.
Thus the government would set up
an establishment with capital of
S200,000,000 and would handle the ex-
port crop applying an excise tax q
say one cent a bushel on the domestic
production and applying approximately
four cents a bushel from that accum
mutation to offset losses on expOr
transactions.
While various farm products are in
clined within the jurisdiction of thu
measure, Mr.. Anderson thinks the bill
has no real application except "a
wheat. He believes a ratio or prices
cannot be maintained because it is
necessary if farm prices go up that
other prices 90 down.
The milling interests are complain
ing that the bill will interfere with
business and there are others who
think the ordinary laws Of supply and
demand had better be left alone.
What the proponents of the Nc
Nary-Haugen bill argue, however, is
that the farmers export could best he
handled by the government and that
/ the operation would tend to fix the
domestic price of wheat at a nlgner
level.
/. Meanwhile President Coolidge has
unclaimed a higher tariff on wheat
a the hope that this will cause the do
mnstic price 10 rise. The farmers
Ave been complaining that the Ford
my-McCumber law has been hitting
~
ineffective in keeping out foreign
S4eat, but with reduced earnings the
Mrmer has had 10 pay higher prices
~ the articles he has 10 buy; things
which on account of tariff protection,
4eye advanced in price.
- Depend on New Tariff.
Should the new tariff rates fail to
Imp out competition, the farmer
I'll go off the reservation politically
i this year-that much seems assured
% the administration is hoping the
3atest move upward Of the tariff will
| bold agriculture in line.
: Just now the Norbeck bill has the
| Iight-of-way in the Senate. 1t pro.
poses 10 appropriate $4,000, 600 winch
| shall be loaned to farmers in sums
| mot exceeding $1,000 so that hogs
sheep and cows may be purchased
and the wheat farmer encouraged tc
diversity his interests. Some of thC
opponents Of the bill claim it is un
constitutional. Nearly every measur,
proposed is attacked on one GROUND
OF another, usually that it is no
economically sound.
Any Moses who can this year rist
up in Congress to deliver the farme,
ont Of his wilderness of debts an,
deprecated price levels will win un
dying fame and may be a presidential
nominee.
Ada-Timid. isn't hef May-Awfully