Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-11

senator Bruce nAPi1Eu LItS AlAONU-
ment of the McNary Haugen bill TO
the populace movement back in the
COS and to the free silver" move
ment.
Curtis Has Own Plan.
Senator Curtis of Kansas has al
ready offered a substitute for the Nc
Nary bin which eliminates the eQuah
cation fee entirely and also gives the
President fun discretion in his APP
pointmentS to the Federal Farm
Board. The Curtis substitute, how
ever. which is the same as the Crist
bin in the House, is not expected to
he adopted
Senator Mcclellan of Tennessee has
offered an amendment to include
tobacco as one Of the basic agricul
tural commodities which are to benefit
under the bill The Tennessee Sena.
Tor also has an amendment providing
that no equa lIzation fee on cotton
shall be levied for a period of two
years from the date Of the passage of
the bill.
senator Tyson of Tennessee also has
an amendment to include tobacco as
one of the basic agricultural COM
naodities.
Reed Attacks Bill.
Senator Reed Of Missouri, who is
commonly mentioned as q possible
Democratic nominee for President i'll
1928, attacked the McNarg bill say
agely, declaring that il it was carr
ried to it's ultimate conclusion 1t
would set UP system of agricultural
peonage in the United States, would
make slaves of the farmers, and if
the principle was extended make
slaves of the entire Nation.
Senator Reed was speaking under
the 15-minute limitation OF debate
which ran throughout the day.
II think l am safe in saying that
not one Senator here would be a pro-
ponent of this bill were it not for the
fact that the farmers are not in
prosperous condition. The situation is
like that of sick man who in his
desperation will take any remedy sug-
gested.
1.-THE great industrial and financial
interests are making more money
than ever. Wages are high and prices
are high, very largely through legis
lation. But the farmer finds himself
in a very different situation.
"It is with a feeling of disgust that
I see Senators who have favored a
high protective tariff now favor this
bill. They created the hardships for
the farmer years ago when they took
away from the American citizen their
rights TO buy their goods in a world
market. Theirs was the initial step
toward depression OF the farmers
condition. They enabled the manu-
facturer to make big profits and to
charge high prices"
What Bin Provides.
The McNary- Haugen farm bill es.
tablishes a Federal Farm Board, Gre
ates a $250,000,0e0 fund. which may
be used to aid in more orderly market.
ing OF basic farm crops and produce
and sets UP the equalization fee'' sys-
tenn, by which the revolving fund is
to be reimbursed from the farmers
who benefit Hereunder.
The Federal Farm Board is to be
composed of u members, one from
each of the Federal Land Bank dis
tricts, and the Secretary of Agricul-
tuFe as ex-off1cio member. The mem.
bers are to be appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate. The
President, however, is limited in max.
ing his nominations to the board to a
list of eligibles nominated by a noni-
mating committee in the Land Bank
districts. This provision has been
widely attacked as an invasion of the
appointing power Of the President.
The basic crops originally named in
the bill We're wheat, swine, corn, rice
and cotton. Tobacco will be added be-
fore the bill is finally passed by Con.
gress, II 1t be passed, 1t was predicted
by supporters of the measure.
The equalization fee also has been
attacked by the opponents of the
measure, who hold it is unconstitu-
tional and a price-fixing scheme
These charges have been vigorously
denied by its proponents, who say il
is no more price-fixing than the tariff,
which has been set up to aid the
manufacturers.
Supporters Work Hard.
The Federal Farm Board is to de-
termine when the equalization fee is
to be made effective, but only after
the producers of the crop upon which
1t is to be applied have asked for 1t.
When the present session of Con-
gress opened, 1t did not appear likely
that vote on the McNary- Haugen
bill could be had before the close of
the session March 4. But the SUP.
porters of the bill, working indus
triously, had the measure reported to
both the Senate and the House. and
hnally In the Senate, they Joined with
the supporters Of the Perpendicular.
den branch banking bill to get the
two measures to a final vote, and ap-
parently with success.
The McNary- Haugen bill has much
support In the Middle West and the
West. Conditions in the cotton and
tobacco growing States of the South
have gained votes for the bin in both
houses this wear - =.
Business Organizations Protest.
Members Of Congress have in recent
days been bombarded with objections
to the legislation from various bust
ness organizations. The argument
that 1t will force the consumers to
pay more for their foodstuffs has been
used vigorously. The farmers. on
the other hand, argue that thew nav
high prices for what they buy and
are compelled to accept low prices
for what they produce.
Resentment against the situation
which has arisen. in which the farm.
er's dollar has less purchasing power
than that of the industrialist and la.
Dor, has become strong in some of
the agricultural States. Threats have
been made by political leaders in
those States that unless something is
done to bring about a parity of the
farmers dollar with that of the rest
of the population the farmers Of the
West will join with the Democrats in
reducing the protective tariff.
HERRlCK GOES To | ONION