Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-18
Hoover's Great Opportunity.

The House and Senate committees on
agriculture are to begin work on farm
bill within a short time. The Senate
committee meets at the call of Senator
McNary, its chairman, one week from
today, and the House committee Is to
begin Its hearings also next week, on
March a.. President Hoover will sub
NIT to Congress his recommendations
for farm legislation when the session
of the new Congress opens April Is.
The fact that Mr.. Hoover's plans for
farm relief are not to be made public
until the middle of April might be con-
sidered a handicap to the committees
which are to prepare bills for intro
duction soon after the Congress meets
were 1t not for the fact that members
Of the committees, through conferences
with the President, have in mind the
lines along which Mr.. Hoover desires
to 60 in the matter Of farm relief.
Furthermore, there is much preliminary
work, in the way of hearings, which
must be handled before the committees
actually get down to the work Of drafting
a bill. For that reason 1t is not be-
leved that the delay in the formal an
nouncement Of the Presidents farm
program will prove a handicap.
Mr.. Hoover in his message to the
new Congress will also deal with the
tariff, yet the House ways and means
committee has been working for months
on a bill for presentation soon after
Congress assemblies. This may appear
to be putting the cart before the horse,
but from practical point Of view it
enables the congressional committees to
prepare in advance Of the meeting Of
Congress and thus to shorten the period
that the Congress will have to remain
in Washington after it has been as
sembled in special session.
There have been intimations from the
White House that President Hoover is
not TO submit the draft Of a bill for
farm relief. It is quite true that he
will not submit tariff bill, nor would
any one expect him to do so. The busi-
ness Of the President is to make recon-
mendations to Congress for legislation
that he believes is necessary for the
benefit of the country. The business Of
the Congress is to frame the legisla-
ton and to work out the details of the
measures upon which it proposes to act.
But while Mr.. Hoover will send no
farm bill and no tariff bill to the Con-
gress, it may be expected that he will
be very definite in his discussions Of both
subjects in his message to Congress. He
could scarcely do less. In view of his call
for meeting of Congress. 1t may be ex-
pected that he will clearly indicate the
lines which he expects this legislation
to take and also indicate limitations
beyond which he is not prepared to go,
In the matter of either farm relief
or tariff revision. 1t is known that he
does not propose to give his approval
to general and inordinate raising Of
the tariff duties. And 1t may be ex-
pected that he will agree to no farm bill
which to him seems economically un-
wise and practically unavoidable.
Much is expected from President
Hoover as leader in the matter of
farm relief. He has before him a great
opportunity to develop his leadership.
No one hitherto has been able to weld
all the factions and groups interested
in farm legislation into single group
ready to accept legislation of a certain
type. But with the verdict of the elec-
ton behind him, MIR. Hoover is in a
position to assume such leadership.