Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-17
HOUSE SENDS FARM
BILL LTOCONFER
Committee to Meet Tomor-
row or Monday for Battle
on Debenture Plan.

The House today sent to conference
the farm relief bill.
1t is expected that the conference
committee will meet tomorrow or Mon
day to begin the struggle between the
two Houses over the so-called debenture
plan inserted by the Senate.
Special Rule Adopted.
The House adopted a special rule
providing for sending the farm bill to
conference. In it attention was called
to the question of the constitutionaiity
of the inclusion of the debenture plan
in the bill by the Senate.
The special rule provided as follows:
Whereas in the opinion of the House,
there is a question as to whether or not
section 10 (the debenture plan) of the
amendment of the Senate to House bill
No. contravenes the first clause of
section of Article I of the Constitution
of the United States, and is an in
fringement on the rights and privileges
of this House, but in view of the pres
ent legislative situation and the desire
of this House to speedily pass legisla-
ton affording relief to agriculture, and
with distinct understanding that the
action of the House in this instant shall
not be deemed a precedent SO far aS
the constitutional prerogatives OF the
House are concerned;
Heated Debate Is Naged.
"Now, therefore, be it resolved that
upon the adoption of this resolution, 1t
shall be in order to move, to take from
the Speakers table the bill, with the
Senate amendment, and disagree to the
Senate amendment, and agree to the
conference asked by the Senate, and
that the Speaker Immediately shall ap-
point conferees."
For nearly an hour, the House de-
bated the resolution with number of
acrimonious exchanges between the
Democrats and the Republicans. The
House divided largely on party lines
in adopting the resolution.
Speaker Longworth, who asked when
IL ever, it would be possible to raise in
the House the question of the constitu-
of the Senate's inclusion OF the
debenture plan in the farm bill. The
Speaker ruled that this question could
not be raised until the bill came back
from conference and only then II the
bill contained the debenture clause
when it was reported from conference.
Record Vote Demanded.
When Chairman Smell of the rules
committee divided vote on the previous
question and the House divided, the
vote was announced 275 to ITO in favor
of voting immediately on the resolu-
ton. A record vote was demanded by
the Democrats on the adoption of the
resolution.
The rule sending the farm bill to
conference was presented to the House
by Representative Smell of New York,
chairman of the rules committee. Mr..
Smell said there was difference OF
opinion regarding the question whether
the Senate had violated constitutional
right of the House to initiate revenue
legislation when the Senate added the
debenture plan to the farm bill.
'I personally believe that 1t was an
unconstitutional act" said Mr. Smell,
but there are other members Of the
House who take a different view"
"Steam Roller in Action"
Mr.. Smell said it has been deemed
wise, in order to expedite final passage
of the farm bill, not to raise the con-
stitutional question and send the bill
back to the Senate. Such a course, he
said might lead to weeks and even
months of debate on this constitutional
question both in the Senate and in the
House.
Representative Pew OF North Carolina,
ranking Democratic member of the
rules committee, declared his opposition
to the special rule, asserting that the
effect of it would be to prevent vote
ON the debenture plan in the House.
This is the steam roller in action"
said Mr.. Pew, land we might as well
look the situation in the face. want
an opportunity to vote on the debenture
plan. If you want to vote on the de-
benture plan this resolution should be
voted down. If you want to dodge a
vote then pass this resolution"
Smell and Garner Cross.
The Democratic leader, Representa-
tive Garner of Texas, twitted Mr.. Smell,
whom he called the author of the reso-
luton, because he said that he per-
sonally believed the Senate had acted
in an unconstitutional manner. and yet
he intended to waive this constitutional
question.
THE resolution and not my personal
opinion is before the House." shouted
Mr.. Smell In reply.
II say you and the Speaker and the
ma jority leader of the House believe
Continued Oh Page 4, Column %
CANTONESE TROOPS