Evening star., 1928-05-22
PRESIDENT IS HELD
ASFAvOR|NG FARM
AID THIS SESSION
Opposes Equalization Fee
Principle of MCNary-Haugen
Measure.
LEGISLATl0N'S FRIENDS
IN CONGRESS BEAR 0NUS
Expectation at Capitol Is 1t Will
Not Be Revived This Ses.
sion if Vetoed.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

President Coolidge and the support
ers of the McNary- -Haugen farm bill
are separated in the matter of farm
legislation by one thing alone-the
equalization fee principle contained in
the bill now before the President for
his approval.
The President, it is said. is prepared
to sign the farm bill provided the equal
ization fee is stricken out.
While there has not yet been a def
mite statement from the White House
that the President will veto the bill. 1t
is understood he will do so. 1t is fur
ther understood that he will send a
message to Congress urging that farm
legislation be enacted before adjourn
ment. and stating that he will ap-
prove the bill minus the equalization
fee, which ne declared unconstitutionai
and unworkable in his veto of a SIM
liar bill passed during the last Con-
gress.
Onus on Bills Friends.
The friends Of the McNary- -Haugen
bill must decide, in such event, whether
they will stand for the equalization fee
or nothing in the way of farm legisla-
Sion. They viii have TO decide whether
the onus for failure of farm legislation
may not rest upon them il they decline
absolutely to put through a farm rellei
bill in conformity with the views OF
the President.
The President was represented today
as still considering his action on the
farm bin. Whether he would SEND a
message to Congress late today or to-
morrow was not indicated. But IN view
Of the iateness Of the session. 1t is not
believed he win delay long in dealing
with the matter.
The situation appears TO be that the
farmers can have the farm AID Dill WITH
tlae approval Of the President. WIN
tie revolving fund and all the ma
es,iuerv set I'd to aid the farmers IN
handlfap their surplus products. II the
~1uo0rterw Of the bill are willing 20
or1tt from the bill the equalization Ice
and repags the measure
win Be Up to Committee.
r,o,btless that viii be broadcast TO
the country. and particularly TO tne
Agricultural States. The money taKsll
fTora the revolving fund unoer tne
equalization fee principle must pe pau
fsci nv tre farmers through the levy
~ Zee without the equalization lee
the farmers get the aid from the Feo-
eral Treasury.
when tbe bill comes back TO the
zenate with the veto Of the President,
n i 80 comes. the bill under present
MANS viii be referred promptly 70 the
c0r4Ynittee on agriculture, OF Whcn
senator Mctary Of Oregon Is chairman.
The committee then viii nave 70 oeclue
wazt is % be done with the measure,
-,aaetf1er an effort Is 70 be made 10 pass
a. ever the Presidents veto. requiring q
.wn-fkiydx vote. or whether the Dill
giaau be amended in conformity with
tf1a Presidents recommendations ano
fg4er1 passed. The impression al the
r.auitol today was the bill would not oe
revived If IL were once vetoed ann sent
% committee.
II Is likely that supporters Of the
administration will rise IN the Senate
and deuaznd that q farm bill pe pn.
Tbros,oh before the adjournment OF
Conzress which the President can sign
They are likely. too, 70 point out tnai
the farm bill, with al It's TelieI pro-
visions. can be enacted into law WIN
out further delay II the equalization
fee is omitted They may ask how tne
1fcHary- -Hsugenltes can go 70 uls
country and defend their position ~
4se matte II they are unwilling 10 paE'
the bin in form Ia which 1t car
feeoKne law They are likely 10 go fur
faer and suggest that the EQUALIZATION
Zee after ail Is demanded because D
fs realized that the bill cannot become
= nw with that clause, and that there
Is politics in keeping the farm issue
alive.
The MeNary- -Haugen bill has been y
framed that the equalization fee - de
c9sgeo by It's friends " be kind %
last resort, 10 BE- applied only In tni
event that all the other remedies in tn
klIl have been tried and have not me
the situation Some have gone 50 "a
as 10 say that the equalization fee plan
might never be Deceasary-~t1at 1t as II
the BIZ! merely as an extra precautloTl
yae friends Of the President IN ttlh
matter say. therefore, Why not pas
tsse bali without the fee principle an'
- II IT does not work."
fgezt Saturday liz the limit which ha
been tentatively fizee by the leaders 70
az adjournment u Congress. There !
nothing 10 compel an adjournment q
that date II Congress desires 10 remain
ia Washington b Work further on farm
LEGISLATION The Republican natAona
convention 10eS not meet Dntu June IL
gn0re than tao weeks from Saturday
~ Congress should remain on the jo
eaotfaeT week. IL would atln give th
yseDab!icang planning " attend the na
flS,g9al convention IN Kansas CITY anpI
time 10 reach that city