Evening star., 1928-05-24
The McNary-Haugen Bill Veto.

President Coolidge has put farm te-
hef squarely up TO Congress i'll his veto
Of the McNary-Haugen bill. He has
shown the way to farm legislation
which can become law and which Is
constitutional and helpful What is
Congress going 10 do about it?
Is Congress to take the position that
II is "the equalization fee or bust" ?
Many Of the best lawyers in the Senate
and House believe that the equalization
fee plan is unconstitutional. among
them Senator Borsh Of Idaho and Sem
stor Walsh Of Montana. The eoualiza-
ton fee is supposed TO be levy upon
the farmers themselves, and many of
the farmers do not like the idea,
But the equalization fee has been
made a fetch of the professional farm
alder. The longer there is no farm
legislation. the longer some OF these
farm aiders will draw their pay. The
equalization fee has been the stumbling
block in the path of farm legislation
II has been seized to the hearts OF sew
eral candidates for the presidential
nomination. in the hope that the farm
States will rise and support them At
the Kansas City convention.
President Coolidge in his second veto
message dealing with the McNary-
Haueen farm bill has dispelled the fog
surrounding the measure. He has writ
ten. IN terms that any voter and any
farmer can understand. the reasons why
the bill in its present form should not
become law He has dwelt upon the
bureaucracy which would be built up
and would hold the farmers and TIE
distributors of farm products in its
grip. one of the most dangerous fea-
lures of the bill
Under the plans of the congressional
leaders. Congress is slated TO adjourn
within q few days. Win II give heed
10 the words of the President as he
says, II am still hopeful that legisla-
ton along the lines suggested in my
last message, with which many Of the
provisions of this bill are in harmony.
may be enacted? If there Is the great
demand for farm relief in the Middle
West and the Northwest which has
been CLAIMED by those demanding the
passage Of the McNary- Haugen bill.
Congress might well iinger in Washing
2pn another week or two and pit
Through the legislation for which the
president asks. and which would be a
sreal aid to the farmer. II Congr sss
adjourns without further effort TO enact
7ezisiation for the farmer it viii appear
that the outcry for single kind OF
farm legislation. and no other. has been
t. n the interest Of presidential candi-
dates and certain farm organization
headers. rather than in the interest o.!
TIE farmer.
To pass the McEary Haugen farm
nsil over the presidential veto requires
= two-thirds vote In both the Senate
aad the House. The supporters Of the
bsil DO not believe that such vote can
be mustered. Even II the necessary
fFo-thirds vote were available. some Of
The gentlemen who have voted for the
measure, hoping 10 put the Republican
administration "in a hole" might be
found absent when the roil was eailed
in the Senate and House. II has been
clear for some time that farm iegisla-
ton was not meant TO pass at The
present session Of Congress. To III.
through q farm aid law would lift The
farm Issue oalt Of the coming natiodai
campaign -an issue upon which both
Democrats and some Republicans hope
fo make big play.
i The country viii have 70 decide be-
tween the President and the supporters
o: the McNary- Haugen bill who insist
! that IT shall be the equalization fee or
no farm legislation. The President mas
given ample and conclusive reasons for
not approving the bill with the f~e
plan IN Il. Can the Congress CIV"
equally good reasons for abandoning
farm legislation st this session of Con
gress7 The National Grange whlcn
has not opposed the McHary- -Halsr;i
Z BILL Is demanding through It's cnlei
that Congress remain in session ana
undertake other farm legislation.
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