Evening star., 1927-11-10
FARM CONFERENCE
ENDS IN FAILURE
Equalization Fee BaIk$
Agreement at ParIey Here
on Relief Plan.

By the Associated Press.
The equalization fee of the McNary
Haugen bill again has proved
stumbling block for an agreement on
farm relief between three of the
ma jor agricultural orga nizations. and
meeting here today to effect COM
| promise was adjourned for further
consultation.
The meeting was called by the
American Farm Bureau Federation.
the Farmers Union and the National
Grange in the hope of reaching de-
cision as to what type of farm relief
| measure should be advocated in the
next Congress.
1t was learned that there was no
disagreement between the three or
ganizations as to the carrying out of
such agricultural policies as the eradi
cation of bovine tuberculosis. farm
education and production processes.
but when it came to the question of
formulating a comprehensive farm re-
lief proposal. the equalization fee
again loomed to balk their efforts.
Stick to Fee Plan.
The bureaus representatives have
not seen their way clear to go very
far away from the equalization fee
provision. while the grange. which
long has favored a debenture-tariff
scheme. has not yet reached the point
where it can go over to the fee pro-
posal. Representatives Of the union
were said to have been in a comprO-
missing mood and willing to accept any
agreement that could be reached.
While the meeting failed to develop
any plan for farm relief. ii was de.
clared to have broken up with good
feeling. The representatives of the
three Orga niZations expect to consult
heir orga niZations separately and then
meet again for a renewal of the discus
sion.
Another proposition on which the
three rganiZations were unable to
agree was the disposition of Muscle
Shoals. 1t was declared that all three
organizations desired the manufacture
OF fertilizers. hut that there was no
agreement as to how this should be
brought about.
Statement Promised.
A detailed statement regarding the
meeting was promised for later in the
day.
A substitute advance by the GRANGE
for the fee provision proved the STUN
bling block which forced an extra ses-
sion today. the meeting having started
Yesterday.
The Grange proposed to representa-
tives of the Bureau Federation and the
union. that the cost of marketing sur
plus crops on the world market be met
by export debentures collectable from
tariff receipts.
The export debentures would rep
resent the difference between the
domestic price of crops and the
world price. They would be given to
exporters who in turn could cash
the debentures by sale to importers
who could present them as payment
of customs duties.
Before going behind closed doors,
heads of the three organiza tions
made soundings at the White House
and at the Capitol as to how far
the administration would go on a
Haugen bill.
Plan Is Studied.
Senator McNary of Oregon, CO.
author Of the vetoed bill and new
chairman of the Senate agriculture
committee. has the debenture suits.
titute under advisement and is known
to be looking for a practicable solu
ton" Of the situation.
President Coolidge was represented
as still fatty opposed to the McNary.
HauSen bill, but ready to listen to
means extending some relief program
The farm leaders who included l..
!. Taber. master of The National
Grange; Sam II. Thompson, president
or he Farm Bureau Federation. and
Charles s. Barrett. president of The
Farmers Union. offered no comment
on their conclusion of the meetings.
PropnentO OF the debenture propos.
| al argued that this would lift the bur.
den of disposing of surplus crops from
farmers, as would have occurred. they
mold. under the equalization fee pro.
vision. which the President held un.
| constitutional
Some support for this scheme
was noted at the Capitol, where Sena.
| tor Borah Of Idaho, an opponent Of
the equalization fee provision. said he
was favorably impressed. although not
ready to pass Judgment on it,
After the meeting broke up. l.. j.
Tabor. president of the Grange. re.
ported details of the conference to
President Coolidge. He said that In
the absence of a final agreement, he
would continue to strongly advocate
the debenture plan and he said that
Mr.. Coolidge was very much inter,
ested In this proposal and listened
| with his customary attentiveness.
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