Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-07
PRESIDENT IS TOLD
FARM BILL STATUS
Watson, Predicting Vote on
Debenture Plan Tomorrow,
Sees Close Count.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Discussing the farm relief situation in
the Senate with President Hoover, Sen
ator Watson, the majority leader, today
told the Chief Executive that vote
on the export debenture plan might be
expected some time tomorrow, with the
outcome now in doubt
He declared an extremely close vote
was expected and declined to predict
whether the debenture plan would be
stricken from the bill, as desired by the
President.
After the conference Watson said re-
CARELESS of the result of tomorrow's
balloting he was confident that in its
final form the farm bill would not con-
tain the debenture plan.
Keeps in Close Touch.
Recently Watson has been in close
touch with the President on the farm
question and in addition to frequent
personal visits to the White House, he
disclosed, he has made daily reports to
the Chief Executive by telephone.
The outcome of the debenture con-
troversy in the Senate appears to rest
on the decision of one member ard the
ability of the plans proponents to
obtain pair for one of their number
who is i'll.
Both sides expect the agreement
reached yesterday for limiting debate
after 2. pm. tomorrow to bring the pro-
poSal, as embodied in the Senate farm
bill, to a vote either late tomorrow or
during Thursdays session.
Checks of the Senate membership,
meanwhile, have narrowed the lineup
of those supporting President Hoover's
opposition to the plan to as and those
in favor Of it to as. Leaders Of the
debenture proponents, conceding this
apparent indication of defeat, never
theless hold that any shift in the line
up today and tomorrow is more likely
to be to their advantage than to that
Of the administration group.
Walsh Statement Plays Part.
The announcement of Senator Walsh,
Democrat, Massachusetts,, who faVors
elimination of the debenture provision
from the bill, that he was inclined to
pair with Senator Shipstead, Farmer
Labor, Minnesota. one Of the two ad-
vocates of the plan who are Ill, was
one of the developments in which the
proponents found encouragement.
Such an arrangement would prevent
Walsh from voting on the issue. HIS
announcement left the debenture pro-
ponents with their major effort d.
rected toward finding some member OF
the opposing camp who would be WILL
ing to pair his vote with Senator Ken
drick, Democrat. wyoming, who also
favors the plan, but is Ill.
Curtis May Break Tie.
Success in both Of these pairing ma
neuvers would cut the indicated strength
of the debenture opponents to IS, CIV
ing the one Senator who has not yet
committed himself the power to decide
the issue. If he should withhold his
ballot with Shipstead and Kendrick,
both paired, and all other members vot-
ing as they have indicated, Vice Presi-
dent Curtis would be called upon to
break the tie.
With the debenture plan once out of
the way, Senate leaders look for rela-
lively easy going during the remainder
of the farm bill debate. Signs of an
impending contest are multiplying, how
ever, over the proposal to exclude fruits
and vegetables from operation of the
Government farm aid machinery it con-
templates, and discussion of other
amendments may prolong the Senate S
work on the measure into next week.