Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-25
Farm Bill Deadlock.

The special session Of Congress called
by President Hoover TO deal with farm
relief and tariff revision has already
run six weeks. Despite the fact that
the farm relief problem had been
studied for years and the fact that the
administration program had been well
understood, no farm relief bill has yet
been finally passed and sent to the
President for his approval. Indeed. the
farm relief bill, complicated by the in
clusion of the so-called export debenture
plan. inserted by the Senate. has reached
. stage of deadlock in the conference
committee. and there is no way Of tell
ing how soon it will 60 to the White
House. Threats are made by stiff
necked Senators that the bill will be
allowed 10 die before they will give In.
The Republican party is pledged TO en-
act farm relief legislation. In the still
alton which has arisen the Democrats
may we'll hnd satisfaction. The Demo-
Gratis would be delighted If the Repub-
ment Of any farm legislation. Once
again the farmers are held up by politi-
cal maneuvering
A combination of Democrats and In
surgent Republicans In the Senate
forced into the farm relief bill the de-
benture clause, which is opposed by
President Hoover. The action showed
q woeful lack Of party responsibility
among Republican members Of the Sem
ate. Several Of them are hard and
fast Republicans when 1t comes to cleo
ton time and when they themselves
are running for ONCE. Once elected
however. as Republicans they seem in
different to the responsibility which
has been placed upon them and lightly
wear the party yoke. This may be very
we'll for the individuals, but is not so
good for the party. Furthermore, as in
this instance, 1t makes a farce Of party
platforms and party pledges. No one
who can read or reason can find any,
where in the Republican platform of
last year pledge to adopt the so-called
debenture plan. which Is subsidy from
the Treasury Of the United States to
all intents and purposes and which is
economically unsound. Nowhere was
the debenture ever discussed by the
leading speakers Of the campaign. The
country, In the election Of Mr.. Hoover,
natly turned its back on such nostruns.
Yet the insistence of the Democrats
upon the debenture plan, aided and
abetted by dozen or more Republican
Senators, has successfully tied up farm
relief legislation. Unless q measure of
reason returns to the Senate, the farm
ers may see another Summer drag by
without any machinery set up to aid
then1-a Federal machinery which was
distinctly promised by both parties
during the campaign. Farming the
farmers Is not new, however, in the
halls of Congress.
The Senate group supporting the de-
benture plan is now insisting that the
House take what they call a direct vote
on the debenture plan. They suggest
that II the House would do that and
defeat the debenture. they would be
willing to recede and permit the bill to
90 through. They are engaged. espe-
cially the Democrats, in the pleasing
pastine Of attempting to make political
capital. What the Democrats hope is
to put certain Republican Representa-
tives from Western districts In a hole
by compelling them TO vote against a
proposal which the Democrats know
cannot become law. but which they
hope to sell to the voters in these dis
tricts in the congressional campaign
next year.