The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-05-17
Congressional Action on Both
Measures Completed Late
Wednesday When Senate
Adopts Conference Reports
Veto of Farm Aid Bill Is
Expected

Washington, May 17.-(AP)-1
The McNary-Haugen farm relief
and Jones-W White merchant marine
bills, two big pieces Of legislation
that have been knocking ct the
doors Of congress for months, passed
through those portals yesterday and
today were awaiting entry into the
White House.
Congressional action on the two
controversial measures was COM
pleted when the senate adopted
conference reports in which differ
ences between the senate and house
were adjusted.
With this over. speculation was
revived as to what kind Of . recep-
tion they will be accorded by Pres
ident Coolidge.
Although changed considerably
since its veto last year, the farm re-
lief bill, setting up q farm board
and huge revolving fund to aid
farmers in marketing their crops,
still carries the much debated equal
ization fee, and for this reason there
appeared to be little doubt at the
capitol that the measure again
would fail of executive approval.
Measures Backers Hopeful
This fee, which would be levied
against growers Of certain commodi-
ties to assist in stabilizing market
conditions when surpluses exist, has
been held unconstitutional by Attor-
ney General Sargent, and while it
would not be resorted to in the pres
ent bill until other provisions had
failed to meet requirements, it still
is believed to be unacceptable at the
White House. Leading hackers Of
the measure, however, have hoped
that because of the alternative pro-
vided before application o; the fee,
the president would sign it As the
best obtainable legislation at this
time.
The fate Of the shipping bill also
was in doubt today, although. most
of the leaders believed the president
would approve it. This measure au-
thorizes q big replacement program
for the government merchant ma
rine, requires sanction Of hut five Of
the seven members Of the shipping
board for the sale of vessels to pri-
vate operators, doubles tho existing
$l25, 100000 construction loan fund
Of the board, and liberalizes the
ocean mail contract system.
Waging a final assault on the
bill yesterday, western Republican
senators contended changes made by
the house had turned it into Sub
sidy" measure. Fighting under the
leadership Of Senator Norris, Repub.
lican, Nebraska, the wcsterners, who
supported the first bill passed by
the senate requiring unanimous con-
sent Of the board for ship sales, per-
sisted in their argument, but finally
yielded and forced q roll call on the
conference report. It was adopted
81 to 90.
! Appointment Significant
The appointment by President
Coolidge yesterday Of Hutch /. Cone
of Florida to succeed the veteran
Admiral Benson on the shipping
board was significant to some of.
ficials and legislators today in view
of the new shipping bills provisions
regarding ship sales and Benson's
long stand against tho Coolidge
policy for early disposition Of the
governments fleet into private
hands.
How Cone feels along this line
was not known, but it was pointed
out that when the senate passed its
original bill requiring unanimous
consent Of the board for sale Of its
vessels, the president felt there
would have to be some changes in
the boards makeup If the bill be-
came a law.
Benson has been on the board
since 1920. Cone, also . former
naval officer, has served on the
boards fleet corporation as q vice
president.