Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-21
PRESIDENT SILENT
ON HAUGEN BILL
White House Visitors Predict
Veto-Secretary Iardine
Studies Measure.

The American farmers only hope
Of getting relief legislation from this
session of Congress hangs on the
slender possibility that President
Coolidge might sign the MCNarN
Haugen bill, according TO congress
sional leaders who called AT the White
House today. Il was generally pre-
dicted by these visitors, however
that the President would veto the
measure and return II TO the senate
late this week.
Representative Crisp, Democrat, OF
Georgia, author of another farm re-
lief bill. declared after leaving the
Presidents Office today that there Is
no hope whatever that Congress might
substitute in it's waning hours his bill
for the McNary-Haugen measure. It
had been rumored that President
Coolidge would be willing to accept
this measure in place of the one that
is now before him for his Official
action, which will either kill 1t per
manently or make ii a law.
Crisp Was Disappointed.
THE agricultural committee voted
10 to II. for renorting my bill out as
a substitute for the McNaryHausen
bill" Mr.. Crisp said. To my sur.
prise, the North Carolina member OF
the committee voted for the Haueen
bill. which gave it a margin or the
single ballot. As q result 1t was re-
ported to the House as the commit
tees farm relief legislation.
Farm legislation s a dead issue. SO
far as this Congress is concerned. The
McNary-Haugen people are ceter-
mined to have their bill or no bill ar
all. Therefore. they will get no bill
at all. I have no fear that the Presi-
dent will change his mind ana sign
the Haugen bill"
Mr. Crisp added that this view was
based on a long study Of the situation
and not upon anything the President
said to him today. He SAID that ne
had called on the President on another
matter.
Another caller at the White House
today was Senator Robinson, Republi-
can of Indiana. who told the President
very h,untiy that the farmers of the
West. and particularly the farmers OF
Indiana. want the McNary-Haugen
bill signed and that he believed 1t
should be signed.
Senator Robinson said that he could
see nothing Objectionable in the
measure and that 1t would give the
farmers, at least temporarily, a
measure of relief that they simply
nave IL lIlCN dAO ~
farming. The President was described
as displaying deep interest in Senator
Robinson's argument in behalf or the
bill. but he gave no indication at the
conclusion of the interview what
course he would pursue.
Edge Sure of Veto.
On the other hand, Senator Edge,
Republican, of New Jersey, who also
called on the President today, de-
clared upon leaving that New Jersey
is solidly against the McNary Haugen
bill It has not even the support OF
the farm elements and agricultural
bureaus. he said. and he freely pre-
dicted that after the bill has pursued
the usual course through formal
channels and has been returned to
the Presidents desk sometime this
week, President Coolidge will lose no
time In vetoing 1t and returning 1t to
the Senate with the assurance that
Congress viii sustain the veto.
Besides those who called in person
to discuss this situation with the Pres
tdent, the White House continued to
receive rush Of kilograms and letters
from al parts of the country, each
urging the President one way or the
other as to his views on the measure.
It was said that the West is solidly
for the bill to become law, If the
sentiment there is to be Judged by the
communications received from that
part of the country. On the other
hand. the East is disposed toward
seeing the measure vetoed. Oficials
of the Farm Bureau Federation. how
ever, claimed that their orga MIA ton
was behind the measure 100 per cent
and pointed out that they have many
locals in tho East. particularly in
New England
Jardine Studies Bill.
In the meantime the bill presume bly,
is under the close scrutiny of Secre-
tary of Agriculture Jardine. 1t was
sent TO Mr.. Jardine late Saturday and
had not been returned to the White
House by noon today. When IL does
come back it is held probable that it
will be sent at least to Secretary of
Commerce Hoover and Attorney Cen
eral Sargent befor. it rests on the
Presidents desk for permanent final
disposition
Since the DILL originated IN the Sen
ate, President Coolidge would send
his veto MESA &c to that branch
should he decide upon such course
Members Of Congress while at the
White House today expressed the
opinion that the House would never
he called upon to test its ability to
override the Presidents veto on the
question. since they held 1t to be GER
tain that the Senate would sustain
the veto and end speculation a nd con-
troyersy definitely so far as this SEES
sion of Congress is concerned