The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-01-03

searching investigation by a national
commission which he would appoint,
and urged congress to do its duty in
respect to the others.
Mr.. Hoover's cabinet was headed by
Henry e. Stimson as secretary OF state
and contained two hold-overs-Secre
tary OF the Treasury Mellon and Sec
rotary of Labor Davis. The names Of
Mellon and Davis were not submitted
to the senate for confirmation, and
little later the foes Of the head of the
treasury tried in vain to impeach his
right to hold the portfolio.
Farm Relief and Tariff.
The President called congress to
meet in special session on April Is,
asking that it confne itself to passing
bills for the relief of agriculture and
revising the tariff especially for the
benefit of farmers and Industries that
had not been prosperous. The house
in ten days passed the Haugen farm
relief bill; and on May % 1t gave its
approval to the Hawley tariff measure
which revised most Of the schedules
and generally increased duties.
In the senate the Republican radi-
calls and the Democrats insisted on
putting in the McNary farm relief
measure a provision for the debenture
or export subsidy plan. though they
knew this would not be accepted BY
President Hoover. In this shape the
bill was passed on May Ia, and for a
month the house and senate confer
ees struggled over 1t, the house finally
winning and the debenture scheme be-
ing eliminated. Mr.. Hoover signed the
measure on June 10, and soon after
named the members of the federal
farm board authorized by the act.
Alexander Legge of Chicago, president
Of the International Harvester COM
pany, was appointed chairman and the
board proceeded to promote the for
nation Of farmers co-operatives,
which would be aided with loans from
revolving fund Of $50, 100000 that
had been voted by congress. This
work continued throughout the year.
meeting with general approval.
With the question Of tariff revision
the senators got tangled up in fight
that seemed interminable. A coalition
of Democrats and radical Republicans
was formed that succeeded In tearing
to pieces the bill reported by the SEN
ate committee which resembled that
passed by the house. This anomalous
majority protested to be acting for
the farmers and even inserted In the
tariff measure the export debenture
plan. The rewriting Of the bin could
not be completed before Thanksgiving.
and SO was passed on to the regular
session that opened on December 2.
In their spare time during the au-
tumn the senators Investigated the ac-
tivities of lobbyists, especially those
concerned with tariff rates, and from
some witnesses, notably Joseph Grun-
dy Of Pennsylvania. they heard COM
ments on them and their doings that
were not pleasing.
President Hoover on May 20 APP
pointed his commission on law en-
forcement, consisting of eleven emf
nent men and women with George w.
Wickersham as chairman. 1t was I'M
derstood this commission would take
several years for its investigation,
making recommendations from time to
time.
Stock Market Collapse.
The great debacle mentioned In the
Introductory paragraphs came in late
October and continued for two weeks.
It was the elimination Of many months
of frenzied gambling by amateur spec
ulators in sensationally rising mar
ker. Prices fell rapidly and paper
profits of about seventy billion dollars
vanished. The government could do
nothing to check the collapse. but
when normal levels had been reached
President Hoover came forward with
a program for the sterilization of busl-
ness and industry and the continuation
Of prosperity the country had been en-
joying. He called groups of leaders
In all lines to conferences In Wash
ington and received from them assur.
ances that they and their organizations
would cooperate with his plans.s At a
final meeting Of big ir'ausfrialists and
financiers aYperna,nent committee was
named to watch out for weak spots In
business aihd apply remedies.
In his message read to the first reg
ular session Of the Seventy-first con-
gress the; President expressed the
confidence that the measures tax
en- had retestablished confidence and
that very large degree Of un-
employment had been prevented.
He recommended increased expedi-
lures for waterways, buildings. and
other public works, and asked con-
gress to authorize the income tax cut
of ] per cent, effective for one year.
The President also dwelt at length on
the matter Of law enforcement. declar-
ing 1t to be the most important issue
before the people and recommending
various changes to help the enforce