Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
PROGRESSIVES MAP !.
LEGISLATIVE PLANS.
Farley Shuns Third Party and
Fails to Line Up Behind
Any 80 Candidate.
CONTINUED From First psge)

declared: I'VE condemn the present
attempt to re-establish the caucus in
convention, and We urge the Importance
Of supporting, strengthening ana I'M
proving the direct primary"
This was a slap at former Gov. Smith
of New York, Representative Will Wood,
chairman of the Republican Congress
sional Committee, and former President
Coolidge, all of whom have recently
criticized severely the direct primary
system.
While the Public Utilities Committee
submitted no report yesterday to the
conference, it is a foregone conclusion
It will recommend, among other things,
legislation for the operation by the
Government Of the water power ana
fertilizer plants at Muscle Shoals.
Electricity Rates Compared.
Senator Norris of Nebraska, address
sing the conference yesterday on the
subject of water power and the water
power trusts, said that Ontario, Canada,
which has public ownership and opera
ton Of electric lighting and power
plants, has given the greatest demon
stration in the world Of how to provide
cheap electric lights: He pointed OUT
that cities in Ontario have rate OF
III cents per kilowatt hour for the cleo
tricity which goes in to light the homes.
Look at your own electric light bills
and see how they compare with that
rate" shouted Senator Norris. Com
pare this rate with the rate in Buffalo,
Ny. In Buffalo the charge Is cents
per kilowatt hour, and Buffalo gets us
electricity from Niagara Falls, only IL
miles away, and Toronto, which Is ~
miles away, has the lower rate. That
is what power-trust ownership does to
YOU. and the rate In Buffalo is one OF
the cheapest for electricity in the United
I'm Hamilton, Ontario, the rate for
electricity to be used in the house IL
~ cents per kilowatt hour. In Ottawa,
the average domestic rate Is 8-lO OF
cent per kilowatt hour. Compare tnat
with the rate in Rochester, N. Y, where
the rate is cents per kilowatt hour
and Rochester is only 10 miles from
Niagara Falls, That Is the difference
between private and public ownership.
Figure that out for yourselves.
Group Holds Whip Hand.
Members of the conference stressed
the need of setting up some permanent
YnachinerSx to draft a national eco
nonnic policy" for the country. The. re-
port of the Committee on Unemploy-
Ynent declared the need OF such an
agency. and doubtless a bill proViulng
for II will be introduced at the next
CONGRESS. Senator La Toilette during
the last Congress put through resolu-
ton providing for senatorial STUDY OF
this very matter.
Unemployment insurance IS anogner
RIbiect upon which the ProgresSiyes I'M
dosibtedly will propose legislation. A bin
for this purpose will be worked out dur
ing the Summer.
In the coming Congress the Progress
siye group will hold the balance OF pow
AZ in both Senate and the House It's
program of legislation viii De pressed
from that advantageous position; On,
doubtedly many OF the proposals Wlll
the other hand, some Of the demands
Of the ProgressiveS are expected 70 pe
written into legislation.
Series oG Meetings Planned.
Senator Borah Of Idaho, reporting Tor
NE Comnnitte on Agriculture, announced
that a eeries of meetings OF the COM
inittee would be held dintng the sum-
Faer and early Autumn.
I'VE hope IN this way" said the re-
VSort. "to avail ourselves Of the views
md opinions Of farm leaders and stu
dents of farm problems. After these
eonferences shall have been held and
such information gathered IS 1t may De
POSSIBLE for the committee TO secure II
is the plan Of your committee 10 en-
deayor TO reach q conclusion as 70 what
tie farm program shall be and to draft
legislation to be presented Tor consio-
Grafton by the next Congress"
For the Committee on Unemployment
and Industrial Sterilization Senator
Ia toilette Of wisconsin, chairman, re-
ported that It was the consensus Of
opinion that the distress and unemploy-
nient still persists throughout the coun-
try. Conditions much worse than now
exist appear TO be unavoidable" be-
cause of the prolonged strain on the va
rious public and charitable funds used
for relief.
ct is the consensus Of opinion that
without the full use of the resources at
the command of the Federal, State and
local governments 1t is impossible to
meet the problems of the present emer-
Rency," the report continued.
SAYS Leaders Have Failed.
The report declared for the creation
OF the necessary public machinery Of
planning and control to meet erner-
Rencies such as exist today. II assert
"a that the leaders Of American indus
try, with rare exceptions, have failed
IN this crisis TO assume responsibility
70 keep their workers employed and
American industry at work. There Is
no longer any question that the con-
duct of business cannot be left TO blind
chance" the report continued
The committee went on record as
"deploring the failure of our Federal
authorities to make provision for the
millions of American citizens on the
verge Of starvation at time Of gen.
efal agricultural and industrial break
down" 1t said the adjournment of Con-
Rress at the time of a great national
crisis Is an evasion Of its primary
duties
The committee provided for the APP
pointment Of a subcommittee to make
. survey Of the present state of unem-
ployment and distress in this country.
and added: 1T Is the sense of this
committee that II the facts of this sur
vey reveal the necessity Of such action
special session Of Congress must be
demanded 70 prevent widespread star
yation." It criticized the veto Of the
Wagner unemployment bill by President
Hoover and announced that subcom-
niitteeS would be appointed to prepare
sound legislative program, dealing
with the following subjects: Employ
naent of1ces. unemployment reserve or
insurance funds the problems involved
in planning for stabilized industry, the
place Of public works in industrial
sterilization. increased purchasing pow
er and the shorter work-day week, CO.
ordination Of relief and sterilization
activities of Federal, State and local
governments.
- Tariff Act Criticized.
The committee on the tariff, headed
By Senator CostiRan of Colorado, criti-
cized the Smoot-Hawley tariff act, as
serting that 1t had failed TO give JUS
ttce 10 the farmers and that IL had
TfaRrnaeaA inRfnad nf InufaFiFRn AlyttQe
many articles, thereby increasing prices
and that IL had cont rihlIted 10 the de-