Evening star., 1926-12-12
Not Price-Fixing Measure, as
Opposed in Message,
Proponents Claim.
FARM RELIEF LOOMS
AS BIG ISSUE IN 1923
Legislation Has Little Chance of
Passage This Session, But
Arguments Continue.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN

Is the McNary farm relief bill,
with it's equalization fee, a price
fixing measure in the meaning of the
Presidents annual message to Con-
gress, when he banned price fixing
legislation as an aid to agriculture?
Senator McNary Of Oregon. chair
man of the Senate committee on
agriculture; Representative Haugen of
Iowa, chairman of the House com
mittee and sponsor for legislation
embodying the same principle. and
Senator Capper of Kansas all stoutly
insist that the legislation is not
price-fixing."
"stabilizing," they say. is the
proper term to apply to 1t.
Not only do they insist that the
proposed legislation is not price
fixing, but they say they believe that
the President in his message to Con-
this character of legislation.
Question Up to President.
President Coolidge alone can settle
this question. He cam settle 1t only
after he has seen the proposed farm
relief measure. So far none has been
introduced at this session in the
Senate or the House.
The revised McNary bill, however,
has been practically agreed upon by
those particularly interested In the
measure. 1t may be introduced dur
ing the present week. 1t differs
slightly from the McNary bill of the
last session, which in turn was diff
ferent from the Haugen bill as 1t
was laid before the House.
Chairman Haugen of the House
committee said yesterday that he be-
lieved bill would be drafted ana
introduced in the House within
short time, a couple Of weeks at the
outside. 1t will be discussed not
only among the members OF the
House from the agricultural States,
but also with representatives OF farm
organizations expected here within a
few days. He made 1t clear, however,
that it was his purpose to seek iegls-
lation at this session.
Speech Hailed As Reputation.
The Presidents discussion of the
farm problem, particularly the sur,
plus crop problem, has been hailed
in many quarters, however. as a dl-
rect repudiation of the McNary ana
Haugen bills and of the equalization
fee principle contained, therein. He
said in his message:
discussions both in and out OF
Congress during the past few years
have given us better understanding
of the subject. and 1t Is my hope that
out of the various proposals made the
basis will be found for sound and ef-
fective solution on which agreement
can be reached. In my opinion co.
operative marketing associations will
be important aides to the ultimate
solution problem. 1t may well be-,
however, that additional measures will
be needed to supplement their efforts
I believe all will agree that such
measures should not conflict with the
best interests of the cO-operatives. but
rather assist and strengthen them.
In working out this problem to any
sound conclusion 1t Is necessary to
avoid putting the Government into
business of production or marketing
or attempting to enact legislation for
the purpose of fixing prices"
Fess Believes Door Closed.
Senator Fess of Ohio. Republican,
author of the Fess farm bill, which
was regarded as an administration
measure in the last session and which
was beaten along with the McNary
bill. is one of those who insist that
the McNary bill. as long asit contains
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