New Britain herald., 1927-02-18
farm RELIEF BILL
BEFORE COOLIDGE
100 Amendments Fail in CLOSING
Battle for Adoption

Washington, Feb. IS R-The Nc
Nary Haughen farm relief bill today
is squarely up to President Coolidge.
Three years from its inception in
the halls OF congress. the measure
with its widely debated equalization
fee provision for price sterilization
now must be passed upon by the ma
tons chief executive.
Final action at the capitol came
last night when the house by vote
OF PA to IT'S approved the bill IN
exactly the form it passed the SEN
ate. and sent it to the White House
for either enactment into law or fiat
rejection.
More than 100 Intellectual attempts
were made during debate to amend
the bill.
Previously approved by the senate
AZ to 80, or nine votes to the good,
the house gave the bill margin of
only SO votes more than neeo.d, and
chieftains in the McNary- haughen
camp made no effort to deny the
contention of opponents that
strength at least in the house cham
Der would be lacking to muster the
two-thirds necessary to pass the bill
over presidential veto.
Opinion Is Divided.
Congressional opinion was divided
in the closing hours of debate over
what position Mr.. Coolidge would
take. In the absence of any definite
expression, each member held his
own conviction and forecasts and
predictions ran rife.
Under the constitution the presi-
dent has ten days in which to either
veto or sign the measure. Should he
do neither, it would automatically
become a law.
Mr.. Coolidge undoubtedly will
take no action until he has con-
ferred with Secretary Ardine and
probably other members of his cab
met. Because of this, several days
are expected to elapse before pro-
nouncement, if any. is made.
With Chairman Haugen of the
agriculture committee, one of the
measures co-authors, in charge, the
-Haugen group held ma
jority on the floor from start to
finish and at the outset of the days
proceedings disposed OF the bllls
chief legislative conference.-the AS
we'll and the Curtis-Crisp farm
measures.
Aswen Bill Killed
The Aswell bill first suffered de-
feat 16O to IA, and several hours
later received another rebuH When
the house went on record PA to
Us against the proposal. The Cur
tis-Crisp bill went down III to 1876.
Two other farm relief plans, offered
as substitutes, were rejected without
record votes. One was a debenture
credit plan, sponsored by Represen-
tatiyc Jones, democrat, Texas. and
the other. the Curtis Aswell com
modify marketing bill of last year
revived by Representative Hill. re-
publican, Maryland.
Having cleared the fell OF these
barriers, supporters of the McNary-
Faugen plan set out to keep the
bill intact as passed by the senate SO
it coul go Immediately to the presl-
den. and avert a possible tilibuster
should a conference with the senate
become necessary by the adoption OF
amendments.
Cries of vote, vote" met the sub
seauent flood of amendments, and
one and all were sent into the legls-
lative discard. In these contests the
McNary- Haugen bill drew support
and fire from both sides of the
chamber and the vote on final pas
sage is indicative Of the strength 1t
mustered throughout.
The final lineup found 113 repub-
licans, 81 democrats, farmer-laoor'
one Independent and one soclallst
Joined in support OF the measure
against los republicans and 10 dem
ocrats.
As the day drew TO a close and
lights were turned on. Representa-
tive Tilson. of Connecticut, the re-
publican leader. led an unsuccessful
fight to carry over a final vote until
today. He first carried 1853 to $50 a
motion to adjourn, but reluctant 10
relinquish a whip hand, the meas
ure's supporters demanded roll call
vote, and on this reversed the pre-
vious count, 19S to 10.
Mr., Tilson and Representative
Garrett, of Tennessee, the democratic
c1Ira
and described it as vicious legisla-
ton" that threatened to bring only
trouble to the farmer. while It's sup
porters held it would bolster the
price that he now receives for his
products.
The bills purpose is to provide
for orderly marketing of SIX basic
agricultural commodities - Wneat'
corn, swine. cotton, tobacco and rice.
II would create a federal farm board
empowered to use a S25o,0O0,ooo re-
volving fund, to be obtained from
the treasury, for purchase or the
surplus of any or all of the basic
commodities above that required for
home consumption.
This surplus would be distributed
in world markets in an effort 10
maintain a relatively high domestic
price. To reimburse this revolving
fund an equalization fee would be
levied upon producers in an amount
equal to the loss sustained in mar
keting SURPRISES abroad.
The board also would be empow-
cred to make loans to agriculture CO.
operative associations in the hope of
strengthening them to supplement
its work. The = members of the
board would be appointed by the
president from a list of So names