Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-06

could create a. deflClencN. tie poAhtSu
out that the Army imprisons desert
ers, and that it could scarcely desert
its men with impunity. Both callers
strongly indicated that if way out
is found it would be in one of these
two directions.
Gen. Lord was less hopeful of meet
ing the Nations obligations to Its
500 900 pensioners for the months OF
May and June, and possibly April.
Included in this vast army and vet
Grams of AMERICAS wars. from the civil
War to the World War. are the wild
ows. orphans and dependents OF vet
Grams, and host of workers VINO
were retired by the Federal Govern
ment from ciy4 positions.
The director of the budget was
asked whether a deficiency TO meet
these pensions would be legal. Tie
replied that it absolutely and most
certainly" would not, adding: IF
there is no money with which to pay
the checks. no pension checks can be
mailed That's all there is to it.
Pensions Held Up.
An appropriation of $37, 100000 for
war pensions went down with the de
ficiency bill under the broadsides of
the closing Senate fiilibuster. This
sum would have met all pensions until
July l, when the appropriations for
the new year become available. Elk.
listing funds will be wiped out about
May /, and Pension Bureau officials
said no checks for May and June. at
least, would be mailed out unless
funds are found elsewhere.
The Interior Department declared
Yesterday that it had not found fund
which would anywhere near equal the
deficit. 1t was said. however, that
the accrued pensions may all be PAID
out of the 1928 appropriation in July.
Should the accrued pensions be paid
out of the 1923 funds, however, Con
gress would have 10 make up this def
cheney next December to avoid repe-
tition of the present situation a year
hence. The deficit is brought about
largely from legislation enacted a
year ago, when Congress boosted the
annuities. adding total of $4,000, 900
to the pension pay roll. The addi-
tional S4,20O,000 covers payments not
included in the 1927 estimates.
Curtis Visits White House.
Senator Curtis of Kansas, majority
leader of the Senate, and Senator Nor
beck of South Dakota called at the
White House yesterday morning in
the hope of finding a way, with the
help of the President. to supply the
farmers of the ~ States in which
crops failed last year with seeds.
Congress passed a bill authorizing the
distribution of seeds and loans for
fertilizer in these districts, but the
appropriation of $8,600,000 to meet the
terms of the measure was sunk in
the deficiency bill
The most seriously affected areas
are in the Northwest and in the cot
ton belt Of the South. President Cool
idge was told that conditions there
are bad, and that unless help is fur
nished the farmers they will not be
bile to fertilize and reseed their farms
this year. The two Senators suggest
ed that the same fund in the Depart
ment Of Agriculture from which
money was drawn to help the farmers
in Florida after the disastrous hurri-
cane might be used.
Senator Curtis told newspaper men,
upon leaving the Presidents Office,
that President Coolidge offered no OBJ
lection to the plan, provided Secre-
tary of Agriculture Jardine could
spare the money needed. They went
Immediately to the Department OF
Agriculture. where, however, they
learned that the fund was too small
to be considered seriously for such a
large undertaking.
Too Small, Says .Jardine.
Secretary Jardine told his callers
frankly that the fund they sought was
nowhere near large enough to sup
ply the farmers of all Of the affected
areas seeds and fertilizer. He took
the position, it is understood, that the
Government could not discriminate in
favor of one section against another,
and that unless a fund large enough
to take care of the whole situation
were found the program would have
to be abandoned.
Secretary Jardine. hllly cogniZant
of the condition of farmers in the crop
failure area, assured the Senators that
he would exhaust every reservoir in
an effort to obtain the necessary
money, but 1t is known that he feels
the hunt will be hopeless. While he
has not closed the door on the affected
farmers, he does not wish to hold out
to them false hope. Temporarily, ii
was learned, he simply declined to dis
criminate.
Official circles saw in this problem
situation that is fraught with i'm
portant political possibilities. For
several years the agricultural indus.
try OF the country has been seeking
relief from its economic plight from
Congress-. With the McNary Haugen
farm relief bill. which had the indorse'
ment of Middle Western farm organi.
cations, vetoed. the failure of the Gov.
eminent to help farmers in the crop.
failure areas may add fuel to the fire
of discomfort in the whole industry, it
Is said.
Other Projects Affected.
Two District institutions to be af.
fected seriously by the failure OF the
second deficiency bill were st. Eliza.
beth's Hospital and Howard Univer
sity. The Interior Department had
inserted an item of $250.000 for the
support Of INDECENT insane of the Dis
trict at st. k,liZabeth's Hospital in the
measure. The hospital will be obliged
to charge" the bill for the care OF
these patients until the money is forth
coming.
Secretary of the Interior Work dis
closed at the same time that the work
of the Medical School of Howard Uni
versity would suffer seriously from the
failure of an appropriation for So, 00(
/. for E'reedmen's Hospital, which haC
been inserted in the bill. The hospita
will be further emha ra ssed, Mr. Work
said, by the loss Of $4,000 for the