Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
HOOVER OPPOSES
/ DEBENTURE PLAN
. IN FARM AID BILL
President Considers Proposal
! for Dealing With Surplus
Crops Unwise. ~
SENATE COMMITTEE
TO BE GIVEN VIEWS
Opposition of Executive Expected
to Result in Defeat When
Voted on by Senator'S.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

3IeSlQeIlG nUOfcI AdS ucVCAHAhAO0
that the so-called export debenture
plan of dealing with exportable sur
plus crops is unwise and will so inform
the Senate committee on agriculture.
The committee included the deben-
ture plan as an alternative proposition
in the farm bill it drafted, which was
introduced in the Senate Thursday by
Chairman McNary.
The Senate committee will meet to-
morrow morning and will have before
It the Presidents communication at
that time.
Whether the committee reverses it.
self and removes the debenture plan
from the bill before it is formally re-
ported to the Senate or not, 1t was pre-
dicted last night that the opposition OF
the President would result in the de-
feat of the plan when 1t was voted on
In the Senate.
Department Reports Cited.
It is expected that the Presidents
communication to the committee will
contain reports on the debenture plan
which have been made to the Presi-
dent by the Departments Of Agriculture,
Treasury and Commerce.
The Presidents announced opposi-
ton to going beyond the platform OF
the Republican party and his own
campaign pledges-which, it is held, the
debenture plan would do-con1es on the
eve of the report of the farm bill to
the Senate. It was planned to report
the bill without further meeting OF the
Senate committee, just as 1t was intro
duced by Senator McNary. can 1or
a meeting Of the committee was issued
last night.
Chairman McNary. Senator's Capper
of Kansas, Thomas of Idaho and Gould
of Maine, all Republican members OF
the committee, already had reserved the
right to oppose the debenture feature
of the bill, provided 1t became evident
that the President would not approve
a measure containing such pro-
vision. These Senators believe that It
would be unwise and of no benent TO
the farmer to put through farm refet
bill which could not receive the ap-
proval of the Chief Executive ana be-
come a law.
Combination Of Votes Is Seen.
It remains to be seen what effect
the Presidents statement will have
upon the other members OF the com.
n1ittee. In some quarters 1t was SAID
last night that the debenture plan
probably would be retained In the pili
as reported to the Senate by q comDl-
nation of Democratic votes with Re-
publican Progressives.
The opposition of the President 10
the deberiture plan, however, Will De
effective in the Senate itself and VIII
operate to kill that feature OF the Dill,
ii was said in we'll informed quarters.
There are at present SIS Republicans,
40 Democrats and Farmer-Lapoflte
in the Senate. Several Democrats from
the East including Senator Walsh OF
Massachusetts, are expected to oppose
the debenture plan. 1t Is not believed
that a sufficient number Of Republicans
and Democrats will combine to put the
debenture plan through the Senate, al
though the vote may be close.
Senator McNary was called 10 Ine
white House to discuss the farm legiS-
Istion situation with the President late
YESTERDAY afternoon. Senator McNary.
after his visit with the President. said
he expected to receive from the Presi.
dent a communication which he WOULD
Law before his committee tomorrow
morning, He would not, however, dis
cuss the probable contents OF the Presi-
dents letter.
Taber Calls on Hoover.
Earlier in the day Louis j. Taber OF
Ohio. master of the National Grange,
which has been sponsor OF the deoen-
tllte plan for several years, was Wis.
itor at the White House. and discussed
the farm measure with the Presioent.
Mr.. Tabef is an old friend OF the
Althoueh Mr.. Taber would not dis
e,,ss his conference with the President,
II is understood that the debenture plan
was discussed at considerable length
and that the President sought TO I'M
nress upon the head of the National
Grange the wisdom of having the farm
ers and their organizations line UP IN
favor of a farm bill which they all
could strongly advocate. The oebenture
plan is particularly the child OF the
National Grange. The American Farm
Bureau Federation and the Farmers
Union, while they have through their
representatives agreed TO go along wltn
the farm bill as 1t was introduced IN
the Senate, are not enamoured. OF the
debenture plan, but have been Wiling
Ia let Il be tried out. The two or
ranizations .were willing to accept the
N6cNarv bill without the debenture plan.
The apparent purpose of the President
a to have the Grange also agree to go
along with the administrators program.
The President, in making known his
views upon the farm bill and the de-
benture plan to the Senate committee,
a \