Evening star., 1926-05-18
NEW FARM RELIEF
MEASURE PLANNED
Administration Leaders May
Write Bill on Floor by
Amending others.
ny DAVID LAWRENCE.

Plans are being made by admins
ira ton leaders in the House to write
a new farm bill on the floor. The
parliamentary situation is such that
an unprecedented maneuver ~
counted on to develop measure that
can be sent to the Senate. the
Hausen bill Is considered to have
little chance OF passage and the move
Ia to substitute the Aswell bill for
the Haugen measure. When that has
heen done the effort will he made TO
amend the Aswell bill by incorporat-
ing the principal provisions of the
Tincher bill
When the carving process is com
plete House leaders hope they VIII
have a bill that eliminates govern
ment price.fixing, that does not de-
pend on the public Treasury Tor a
subsidy and that cO.ordinates the varl'
GUS agencies engaged In cooperative
marketing so that effective ha ndling
Of surplus products may be made pos
sible by the farmers groups them
selves.
Plan 10 Lose Legislation Charged.
What the Senate will do is another
problem. House leaders have been
told that the disposition OF many
Senators is to let the farm bills get
tangled up in each other In such fash
ion that no action whatsoever Will De
taken at this session. As II appears
from the Senate viewpoint farm leSis-
lation Ia not so essential as II ts from
the House. There are only about 81
Senators who are to he up for re
these como from Democratic States.
Some Of tho Republican Senators who
belong to the insurgent group are in
different az to what the leaders de-
eide, for IL there is TO be no legislation
1t increases their opportunity TO dis
cuss on the stump the shortcomings
Of the conservative leadership OF the
Senate.
II would. in other words. he political
ly less da angerous for the Senate than
the House TO let farm legislation 20
by default. After the House has pa So
ed a bill the mcmbers-all of whom
are up for re-election--could point to
their own record as an evidence OF
their interest in farm legislation and
could blame the absence Of farm
relief law on the tangle in the Sen
ate.
Little Enthusiasm shown.
The truth is that there is rela
lively little enthusiasm in Congress
for a revolutionary change in farm
economics. A small group prodded
hy various outside orga nizations is
making a fight hut the chances OF
success have been diminished by the
failure of the farm leaders to get to-
aether on program that can win
sanction from the White House.
There IL no doubt that the Secre-
tary OF Agriculture and the President
realize the importance Of solution
to the surplus problem. but they have
come out 80 firmly against any sub
sidy by the Government or any par
ticipat ton In scheme that permits
the co.operatfves TO Ak prices with
governmental supervision that most
members Of Congress have not felt
1t incumbent on them to assume a
role In opposition to the known de
stree Of the administration. II the
President we're on the other side Of
the argument pleading for farm re,
lief the situation might he different
As the Summer months approac ch
and Congress becomes anxious for
adjournment. the trend is toward in
action rather than action. And II is
beginning to look as II the House
will do its part and the Senate will
accept responsibility for a thoroughly
changed bill or complete inaction.
CopyriEht 1920