Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-30
SMOOT ATTACKS
/ DEBENTURE PLAN
RetaIiatory Tariff Barriers
Would Be Erected by
Others, Utahan Says.

ny the Associated Press.
The export debenture plan was at
tackled in the Senate today as IAN un
workable provision ccrtein to bring tariff
retaliatory legislation from other coun'
tries by Senator Smoot of Utah, chair.
man of the finance committee, which
Handles tariff legislation.
: Smoot, one of tn" administration stall.
warts said he WIS otherwise in accord
with the Senate farm bill and hoped il
would be passed by ne Senate, accepted
by the House and gned by Presideni
Hoover.
Retaliation Is Stressed.
1T have no objection to spending
$500. 000.0 0o." Smoot said, ut is not
too much if the legislation is handled
wisely. / wish to stress the point
however. that the debenture plan will
bring retaliatory provisions from other
countries"
said countries always have regulated
their tariffs without the United States
paying the slightest attention to them.
But Just as soon as We apply in a
practical way the protective system to
agriculture" Borah said, I'VE become
very much frightened as to what will
happen"
McNary Hopes for Action.
Despite Interruptions which have de-
layed progress of the bill thus far.
Chairman McNary of the agriculture
committee. in charge of the measure,
was hopeful today that its considera-
ton could be completed this week,
A vote on the. debenture section had
been counted on today, but the fact that
the Senate was able TO give only one
hour to the farm bill yesterday and
developments during that discussion
changed that expectation Now a vote
on this disputed section is not looked
for until tomorrow or Thursday. but
with no indications that other sections
will arouse such disputes. final action
on the bill itself is expected to follow
quickly
Administration supporters in opposi-
ton to the debenture proposal continue
confident that they will be able to de-
feat it. They were encouraged yester-
day by the division of sentiment among
its proponents indicated by the attack
OF Senator Caraway, Democrat, or Ar
kansas. on the amendment proposed by
Senator Norris Republican, Nebraska,
to provide for reduction of debenture
rates as means of discouraging over
production of affected crops.
Arkansan Sees Penalty.
Both are supporters of the debenture
plan and the Norris amendment was
intended to win votes for it among those
who fear it would tend to encourage
oFerproduetion of debenturable products.
a ballot on the amendment is planned
before the debenture section is brought
to a vote The Arkansas Senator con-
tended its effect would be to penaiize
farmers for using production advice
gwen them by the Government.
& Chairman McNary called his COM
Ihittee to meet today to consider one
uhaSe of the debenture discussion-the
question whether to make public testi-
iiaony given by Agriculture Department
experts during its hearing on the bill
which is understood to favor the deben-
tire plan.
Grange Backs Norris.
Ether testimony was heard before
PRESIDENT Hoover declared his opposition
To the plan on the basis of studies con-
ducted for him by the Agriculture,
treasury and Commerce Departments
9Coincident with the discussion of The
Norris amendment, the National Grange,
Which has advocated the debenture
pan for number of years, sent to each
Member of the Senate a letter advising
that the organization is in favor of Sen
sHor Norris proposal.