Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-07
SENATE FARM BILL
FIGHT DUE TODAY
Fess to Attack II as Uncon-
StitutionaI-CurtiS viii
Offer Substitute.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
The McNary farm relief bill is due
for tongue lashings in the Senate to-
day. The unfinished business OF that
body, it comes up automatically. Sen
ator Fess of Ohio. Republican. is ready
to attack the bill as unconstitutional
and unavoidable. Senator Curtis Of
Kansas, Republican, leader, will offer
his substitute measure, which is I'M
derstood to be acceptable TO the admin
istration. though up to date the White
House has not put its seal Of approval
on 1t nor worked actively in It's sup
port.
a feeling was growing in some quar-
ters at the Capitol today that Presi-
dent Coolidge, unless the McNary bill
Is materially modified, would veto the
Dill, should 1t be passed and sent to
NM Those who expressed this view,
however, admitted they had nothing
definite to base their belief upon.
Rather, they were resting their i'm
pressions upon the Presidents attitude
a year ago. They insisted that the
McNary bill today is as Objectionable
as is was then.
Two Points OF Attack.
The bill will be assailed particularly
at two points. One is the equalization
fee and it's operation, which opponents
or the bill insist is no more nor less
IMAM price-fxing scheme. The other
tS the plan proposed for the selection
or the Federal Farm Board under
whose control will be the operation Of
the new law, if it becomes a law.
This board is to be composed Of IL
members, one from each Of the IL Fed
eral land bank districts, appointed by
the President and confirmed by the
Senate from lists of eligibles submit
TED by the nominating committee for
the district" The Secretary OF Agri-
culture is to be ex-officio member Of
the board,
There is to be established a nomi-
mating committee In each of the Fed
eral Land Bank districts, consisting Of
I'VE members. -Four of the members
or the nominating committee in each
district are to be elected by the bona
hde farm organizations and co-opera.
tive associations. They are to be
elected at conventions of these va
rlous organizations to be held at the
office Of the Federal Land Banks In
each district. The fifth member of the
nominating committee In each district
is to be appointed by the Secretary
OF Agriculture.
President to Name Board.
The nominating committee in each
district is to present to the President
a list of three individuals from the
district, and from these lists the Presi-
dent Is to appoint the members of the
board
Opponents Of the bill call the pro-
visions for selecting the members of
the Federal Farm Board "bolshsvik.
They say that to adopt such a system
would be on q par with a plan by
which the railroads of the country
should select nominating committees
for appointees to the Interstate Com.
rnerce Commission, with lists from
which the President would have to ap-
point members of that commission.
The opponents Of the McNary bill
are planning also to attack the meas
ure as a burden upon the consumer.
They win insist that il the McNary
bill becomes law the prices of food
VIII be increased. Already there Is
talk about the increase in the price
IF wheat and the price of cotton. which
has occurred in the last few DAYS.
largely, 1t is said. because of the re.
port that the McNary bill might be
passed.
Proponents Press Claims.
Friends of the McNary bill, on the
other hand, will argue that the farmer
is entitled to a fair price for his com.
modities and will urge that the con.
sumner should be willing to pay a little
more, If necessary, in order to permit
the farmer a fair return
A number of the supporters of the
bill are ready and anxious to
speak, If they can find opportunity.
Senator Sheppard, Texas, Democrat,
to address the Senate TODAY
in support of the bill. A dozen other
Senator'S from the agricultural States
wish to be heard.
Whether the petition for cloture on
the farm bill will be filed today or to.
morrow was undecided when the Sen.
ate met. Another effort may be made
TO secure unanimous consent to fig n
time to vote on the bill and on the
banking bill. Supporters
OF the bill fear that if they hasten
to clap cloture on the Senate they will
be attacked by opponents and will be
with applying the gag rule.
with the interests of the consumers
Or the country at stake.
The Curtis substitute for the Nc
Nary bill provides also for a Federal
Farm Board and, like the MeNary bill,
appropriation of a revolv-
ing fund of $3.50, 100000
Provides No Equalization Fee.
The declarations OF policy in the
Curtis bill are similar to those in the
McNary bill. The Curtis bill, how
ever, provides no equalization fee. If
losses are to be borne, they must come
put of the revolving fund, and conse
1uently out Of the Treasury. The
equalization fee, on the other hand, is
in the McNary bill as
means of repaying the losses.
The Curtis bill has a different sys-
,em, also, for the appointment of
members of the Federal Farm Board.
1t provides that not more than of
the IL appointed members shall be
members of the same political party.
No nominating committees are pro-
vided for, nor is the President re.
luired to consult with farm organiza-
lions nfs Rn-nnQrafiVo ncSnO{ofia In