Evening star., 1928-11-22
Dealing With Farm Legislation.

Ueallng W1tn cdEm cSLSAdC1oA'
Senator William E. Borah, address
ing the convention of the National
Grange, urgently recommended spe-
cial session of Congress after March
to deal with the farm problem. He
made the point that the coming short
session of the present Congress does
not offer full opportunity to deal with
farm legislation properly. In this point
of view the Idaho Senator may well
be correct. The farm problem has been
recognized as the major problem de-
manding attention in the United States
today. Both the Republican and the
Democratic national platforms In the
recent campaign promised that the
legislative needs of the farmers should
have prompt attention. Mr.. Hoover,
the President-elect, pledged an early
attempt to solve the difficulties OF
agriculture. He went so far as to prom
ise the call of Congress in special ses-
sion to pass farm legislation in the
event the Congress did not complete
such legislation during the regular
short session which is to open De-
cember 8.
If a special session of the Congress
Is called by Mr.. Hoover 1t will bring
to washington the newly elected mem
bers of that body-members who, like
Mr.. Hoover, are pledged to remedial
legislation for the farmers. In meas
ure the new Congress should be more
responsive to the situation than the
old. The Republican party, in the
nomination of Mr.. Hoover for Presi-
dent, and the country, in the election
of Mr.. Hoover to the presidency, turned
its back on the old McNary- Haugen
farm aid bill, with its equalization fee
principle and cumbersome machinery.
It is well understood that the legisla-
ton which will be put through--if the
campaign pledges are fulflled-will be
in accordance with the ideas set forth
by the President-elect in his st. Louis
address and in his speech accepting the
nomination.
The old Congress showed itself IA
vorable to the discarded principle OF the
McNary- -Haugen farm bill, which it put
through and sent to President Coolidge
knowing well that he would veto it
If farm legislation is undertaken in
the coming short session of the old
Congress, it may well happen that ad-
vocates of the equalization fee will
make another attempt to fasten that
legislative remedy upon the farmers.
It appears quite certain that If farm
legislation is taken up seriously In the
short session it viii lead to much de-
bate. Debate, if prolonged in a short
session of Congress, not only places IN
jeopardy the legislation proposed, but
also makes it difficult to put through
the annual supply bills that are neces-
sary for the continued smooth running
Of the Government.
Mr.. Hoover, Senator Borah and
other prominent Republicans who dis
cussed the farm problem during the
campaign laid much stress upon the
need of revising the tariff in order to
give the American farmer more ade-
quate protection. Revising the tariff
is not a job to be lightly undertaken
It means weeks Of work and hearings
by the House and Senate committees
It means usually long debate in both
houses Of Congress. Furthermore, II
an attempt is made to revise the tariff
to benefit the farmer, there is every
reason to believe that some Of the in
dustries of the country will seek to
have tariff schedules affecting them
revised. Already the members Of Con-
gresS from New England are demand
ing such action.
Despite the fact that the farmers
have been the beneficiaries Of much
Salutary legislation in recent years, in.
creasing their means of credit, they
have expected basic act which 1t II
hoped will set up machinery which
will aid agriculture as the industries o.
the country. the banks and the rail.
roads have been aided by Federal legis'
lation. 1t is only right that they shoulc
have such a basic law, if one can b.
worked out constructively. With tht
passing of the political campaign ther'
is greater chance that the farm prob
lem may be dealt with on its merits
rather than from the point of gain II
any candidates for Office.
If this farm problem cannot be con
sidered and acted upon adequately il
the short session of Congress soon u
convene, by all means a special ses
sion should be called. The farmer
have waited long enough. The oil
bogey that session Of Congress un
settles business has not been borne on
by the facts. If Congress can help +
put agriculture on a stable basis it Wi
do much for business generally.