Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-19
SENATE FARM BILL
READY BY MONDAY
Present Plan Is to Introduce
Measure With Debenture
Feature.

The Senate committee on agriculture
will report the farm relief bill to the
Senate Monday containing the de-
benture plan of dealing with the ex-
portable surplus crops, in the opinion
Of members of the committee today.
Even a recommendation from President
Hoover aaginst the debenture plan would
not move the committee to strike the
proposal from the bill. it was intimated
Ii the debenture plan, which is be-
lieved to be opposed by the President,
Is stricken from the bill. it will have
to be killed in the Senate itself. in all
probabilities. To accomplish its death
in the Senate, it is likely that the full
weight of the administration. win have
to be thrown against it..
Reports from the Department of Ag-
riculture, the Treasury Department and,
possibly the Department of Commerce
on the feasibility and advisability of
adopting the debenture plan are ex-
pected. Doubtless they will be used as
clubs against the adoption of the de-
benture plan, which has shown signs
Of becoming the bane of the present
administration, just as the equalization
fee of the old McNary- -Haugen farm
bill was the bane of the Coolidge ad-
ministration.
Bill Agreed Upon.
The Senate bill has already been
agreed upon in committee and unless
another meeting Is considered neces-
sary, 1t will be reported to the Senate
as 1t was introduced. If another meet
ing Is demanded, it probably will be
held Monday morning The plan now
is to report the bill to the Senate Mon
day and have 1t made the unfinished
business.
The administration might have pre-
vented the inclusion of the debenture
plan in the Senate bill had it taken a
stand against the proposal when it
was first advanced. Promises to study
the bill at the White House, however.
encouraged some of the members of the
committee from the West and the South
to go ahead and place the proposition
in the Senate bill. Even today, these
members insist they have yet to hear
from Mr.. Hoover whether he Is for or
against the debenture plan. Having
taken the step which placed the
debenture plan in the bill, it may now
be difhcult for the Senators to throw
it out.
The debenture plan will have the sup
port OF considerable group of Repub-
lican Senators from the West. Should
the Democrats solidly support the plan
it might be kept in the bill However,
some of the Democrats will not support
it, among them Senator David /. Walsh
of Massachusetts. Southern Democrats
from cotton-growing States which will
benefit by an increased price of cotton
are likely to line up for the plan, 1t was
said.
4 McNary Calls With Bill. =
Senator McNary called at the White
House today with copy of the tenta-
tive Senate bill containing the deben-
ture proposal. He did not see the Pres
ident, but left the copy with Walter
Newton. administrative assistant to Mr..
Hoover.
with the new farm bill barely launch
ed upon its course through Congress,
some of its advocates are putting their
heads together to work out g way of
providing the $500, ,000, 900 it would au-
thorize for the Federal Farm Board.
The measure, itself, would simply au-
thorize and not provide the appropria-
ton. following the customary lines of
legislative procedure. The House ap-
propriations committee which usually
passes upon all Government expendi-
lures and prepares the bills making
funds available, however, has not been
organized for the special session.
Two Ways to Get Fund.
While, in the ordinary course Of
events, the matter could be brought
before the appropriations committee ct
the opening of the regular session,
some OF the farm leaders in the House
feel that because Of the emergency ma
ture of the legislation and the desire
of the President to Lave the board able
to function for MARKETING this years
crop, its fund should he provided before
that time.
Two ways have been indicated in
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