Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
CAPPER CONDEMNS
DEBENTURE PLAN
Lines Seem to Be Holding
Firm, Although Shifts
:. Are Rumored.
Continued From First Page)

NCOnllnueO rTOHl FlISJ RAGE
the bill in conference or tie UP indefi-
nitely the farm relief bill. 1t is doubt
fJi that the Senate would be able to
resist: the pressure for action on the
farm bill long And If the debenture
we're placed in the tariff bill by the
Senate, there would be plenty OF pres
sure TO speed that bill, too, through the
conference stage.
The President has been fully informed
regarding the situation. in the Senate,
where the debenture plan is soon TO be
voted on. Senator Watson OF Indiana,
Republican leader, was at the White
House yesterday morning, Last night
the Indiana Senator was hopeful that in
the end several Senators who have been
inclined to vote for debenture, will
swing over to the support OF the admin
iStration.
1t is reported that Senator Copeland
OF New York, who said during a speech
in the Senate attacking the farm bill
that he expected to hold his nose and
vote for the debenture, is not entirely
happy over the developments OF the
last few days. The prospect OF retain
ing in the bill the debenture clause which
he does not approve, by his own vote,
is giving him cause for thought.
Senator Nye of North Dakota has
said, and other Senators have indicated,
that if the President should announce
he would veto the farm bill ii It con-
tanned the debenture plan. he. Senator
Nye, would vote against debenture, al
though he proposes to vote for 1t If
such a statement is not forthcoming
from the President. 1t was said yester-
day in informed quarters that the Pres
ident would make no such statement
regarding it as the province of Congress
to pass legislation and the province OF
the Chief Executive to approve or veto
the legislation after it comes to him.
There is strong belief however, that the
President would veto the farm bill If
the debenture plan were in it when it
was sent to him for approval. He does
not believe 1t sound economically or OF
advantage to the farmers.
However. the fight over the debenture
plan in the Senate might have far
reaching consequences II it gees against
the President The administration
forces are not ignorant of that fact. 1t
might preSage serious and successful
efforts to disregard the recommends
lions of the President when the tariff
bill is up for consideration in the Sem
ate It might presage, too, future align
merts between the Democrats and the
Progressive Republicans from the West
which would arise to plague the ad-
ministration throughout the present
Congress.
It is, expected that over the week
end there will be pulling and hauling
bv both sides in the debenture fight.
The administration leaders believe that
they will succeed in killing the deben-
ture. And even some of the support
ers of the debenture plan are Skeptical
that they will be able to defeat the ad-
rninistration with its tremendous power
when the roll is called.
Hoover Principles Praised.
Senator Capper came stoutly to the
defense of the administration and Its
farm relief plan during the debate yes
terday. He said, in part:
Fortunately we have q leader IN
President Hoover, who has demonstrated
for MANY years that he has an extraor-
binary capacity in solving big PROB
lens. I have every confidence IN ms
capacity and in his desire to place agrl-
culture on a par with the rest or Amer
lean industry The principles he has
outlined for solving the farm problem
are sound, and in my judgment they
will work. / think we should give his
plan the votes it will take to make II a
part of the Law of the land. OF course,
it is likely that any plan We adopt Mlll
not be perfect, but it Will be start,
and If we use sound reasoning it should
work fairly well. At future sessions OF
Congress it can be amended as seems
wise, after it has been measured In the
light of experience. ...
LET me saw, too. that it does not
seem to me that this plan should in
cludc the provision for export deben-
lures. I doubt if this theory would be
wise or effective as longtime meas
ure. / doubt the wisdom OF paying even
an indirect subsidy from the United
States Treasury for the production OF
food to be dumped into an already
Dvercrowded world market. And IL
would presently run into huge costs. II
you put this, subsidy into effect We will
increase our production of wheat IN
Kansas, through our use OF big power
bn our ilevel heldS, in way tnat VIII
give the Treasury plenty OF work to do.
Instead of working out method such
Is this, which will result u production
that is not needed, at huge cost TO
the American nation, why not Try 10
reach the quality market which Is right
at our doors, in a more etnclent way
than we have been doing? 1t Is my
belief that ever since 1920, during TINS
depression from which agriculture has
mffered so severely. we could have OBJ
tained many millions of dollars of addi-
.ional income for agriculture II We had
used an organization capable of ade-
auately reaching consumers in the most
lficientiwaS with Just the products they
desired That is exactly the purpose of
he plan which many members OF this
BODY have in mind, now The farm
Aoard which. this bill will form should
have been established years ago. The
help It will be sble to give to farmer
swned and operated STERILIZATION cor
porations will enable. them TO do a far
more eficient job OF merchandising
han producers have ever done before.
That idea is sound; it conforms to al
'eady demonstrated. economic principles,
IND IL will work A" "