Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-27
Administration Must Muster
Support of Democrats
to Pass Measure.
FARM BLOC CLAIMS 20
REPUBLICAN SENATORS
Both Sides Accept Delay as Chance
to Strengthen Stand-Infuence
of Administration Seen.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Farm legislation, which seems to
have more lives than a cat, still
loomed as it's principal issue when the
Senate rested from it's labors last
night.
With the President openly and
squarely back of the Fess bill. now
offered as an amendment to the bill
creating a bureau of cooperative mar
keting in the Department Of Agricul-
ture, the Fess bill is stronger than 1t
has been at any time since the de-
bate began.
Whether II can muster enough
votes to pass, however. Will depend
largely upon the attitude OF Demo
cratic Senators. 1t must have a suffi-
cient number of Democratic votes TO
Offset the detection in the Republican
ranks, defections due to the fact that
some of the Republicans insist they
will support nothing that does not
contain the principles of the McNary
Haugen farm relief bill.
90 Opposing Republicans.
Leaders of the McNary- -Haugeu
bloc in the Senate figured last night
that they had a minimum of 20 votes
on the Republican side Of the cham
Der. including Senator Shipstead of
Minnesota, Farmer Labor, against the
Fess bill 1t was said that the vote
in opposition on the Republican side
might run as high as -. But, ad
mittedly. some Of these Senators may
be pulled off before the vote is taken
by pressure brought 10 bear by the
administration.
1t was said to be doubtful that
more than half a dozen Democratic
Senators would vote for the Fess bill
on the roll call.
Unless this eleventh hour effort to
pass the Fess bill is successful. ii
appears certain that no farm relief
legislation, except the bill for CO.
operative marketing bureau, will be
enacted before adjournment.
Administration Working Hard.
Desperate efforts will be made by
the administration forces 10 line UP
votes for the Fess bill in the breath
ing space permitted by the week end
adjournment. On the other hand. the
corn belt committee and some of the
farm organizations which have stood
for the McNaryHaugen bill as the
sine qua non in farm relief legisla-
ton, will do their utmost 10
strengthen the lines OF opposition.
Both sides in the contest agreed
yesterday to lay aside the farm bill
temporarily and to take up the bill
proposing an amendment 10 the vet
Grams act. The supporters of the Fess
bill were willing to let the farm bill
ride for day. believing that time is
the essence of success, time in which
to bring pressure to bear upon Re
publican Senators who have been sup
porting the McNary- -Haugen bill and
have been opposed to the Fess prcpo.
sition They believe also that some OF
the Democrats from Southern States
will be urged by farm co-operatives In
their sections Of the country TO sup
port the Fess BILL which provides
revolving fund of 100000, 900 TO loan
to farm co-operatives to aid in the
better marketing of the crops.
Opposition Glad of Delay.
The dyed.in.the- wool McNary Hau-
genites, who will oppose the Fess bill
on the ground that it merely provides
another method of loaning money to
the farmers and is not wanted by the
farmers, were glad of an opportunity
debate and vote on the Fess measure.
Last night leaders on both the Re
publican and Democratic sides or the
chamber expressed the OPINION tnat
the Fess bill would fail when 1t came
to a showdown, but they admitted
that this was surmise and not based
on any careful polls to see how the
Senators all stood.
The Presidents strong appeal for
legislation for the farmers before the
close Of the present session Is having
its effect. 1t brought right-about-
face on the proposal advanced by Sen
ator Watson Of Indiana. a McNary-
Haugenite, that the farm bill be def
nitely laid aside and allowed to die for
the session. Senator Watson with
drew his motion to lay the bill aside.
The question is, Will the effect OF
the Presidents demand for legislation
be sufficiently strong to deliver the
necessary number Of votes.
May Alternate Democrats.
His definite appeal for the Fess bill
may have the effect of alternating some
Democratic support, for the Demo
Gratis are not anxious to give the ad-
ministration a chance to claim 1t has
cNdCtcQ bSAACL ASoAOAUSaOAA 49, ssAS
coming campaign.
The proponents Of the Mcc<ary.
Haugen bill are planning final drive
for inclusion in the farm legislation
Of the principle of the equalization fee
as applied to farm products. Senator
Howell Of Nebraska has prepared a
substitute which he will offer for the
Fess bill when the proper time ar
riyes. The Howell substitute will
combine provisions of the Fess bill
with those of the Lenroot bill. which
is the pending amendment in the Sen
ate, and add to them provision for
applying the principle of the equaliza-
ton fee to just one crop-wheat.
Senator Howell will propose that
this experiment with the equalization
fee be limited to three years. II 1t can
be made a success with wheat in that
time, then Congress would be in a
position to apply 1t to other crops by
further legislation. II 1t does not
nroye a success, then Congress could
repeal the provision even before the
three-year period expires.
Chance for Supreme Court.
Furthermore, Senator Howell
argues, the Supreme Court woulL
have a chance to pass upon the con-
stitutionality of the equalization fee
system, which has been questioned by
q number Of Senators. including Gen.
Continued on RAce 4 aalsun {