Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-07
IMPROVED FARM
SITUATION SEEN
Chairman Legge Expresses
Opinion Before Senate
Agricultural Body.
az enc Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Chairman Legge of the Farm Board
expressed the opinion before the Sem
ate agriculture committee today that
the bottom had been reached in the
price declines of agriculture commodi-
ties and that improvement was in sight.
Legge with Secretary Hyde discussed
the farm question at an executive SeS-
SiuA.
Afterward Chairman McNary called
another meeting of the committee for
tomorrow to consider the Nye resolu-
ton asking investigation of administra-
ton OF the act under which the Farm
Board was created.
Legge told the Senate committee that
full attention of the board was now
directed toward bringing about stabi-
lization OF agricultural commodities
prices. Wheat and cotton prices have
broken considerably in recent weeks.
Legge and Hyde Called.
McNary requested Legge and Hyde to
appear tomorrow. He asked them to
submit an opinion on reports that q
worldwide attempt was being made to
depreSS prices In an effort to demoralize
the new American farm relief program.
The committee chairman said he had
received reports asserting that there
was evidence of worldwide arrange
ment against the Farm Board, centered
In operations on the Liverpool Ex-
change. He did not disclose the source
of hts information. nor the evidence
submitted.
Senator Nye, Republican, North Da-
kota, who has charged a determined
campaign by the grain trade of this
country to diScredit the Farm Board,
indicated after the session that he
would press his resolution.
However. 1t was indicated that Legge
and Secretary Hyde were disinclined
to favor the proposed investigation at
this time, fearing misinterpretation of
its purposes.
Chairman Legge took the position to-
day that the Farm Board was not q
charitable institution" and that Con-
gress would have to guarantee the eX-
penditure If it adopted the McMaster
resolution proposing that the board buy
$25. 100000 worth of wheat and send
1t to China to relieve famine.
We've got the wheat If they want
1t" he said, "but We are not the Red
Cross and II Congress wants to be
charitable that's up to Congress"
The resolution was introduced by
Senator McMaster, Republican, South
Dakota, for the twofold purpose of
finding an outlet for surplus American
wheat and bringing relief to the famine
area Of interior China. He proposed
that the Chinese Nationalist govern
ment guarantee the repayment Of the
SOS, 000,000 within 10 years.
Consideration Postponed.
Further consideration OF the resolu-
ton was postponed until next week by
the Senate agriculture committee when
1t expects to hear the testimony of D.
o. Lively of New York, national di-
rector OF China famine relief, which
actively urged adoption. The commit
tee heard objections to the resolution
yesterday from John Barton Payne,
chairman of the American Red Cross,
and John Van A. MaeMurray, former
Minister to China.
Chairman Payne and Senator Nc
Master clashed repeatedly over the
formers statement that restitution in
China was the result of an accumula-
ton of chronic disorders brought about
by militaristS and that the Red Cross
was convinced that only q united,
strong central government could relieve
famine conditions.
MacMurray supported Payne's views
that there was an abundance Of grain
in China without any more being
shipped from America and that If it
were possible to get 1t over the rough
terrain and past armed marauders,
the permanent international famine
relief commission in China would have
done so.