Evening star., 1933-03-23
BILLION farm LOAN
RELIEF IS PLANNED
Congress Leaders Confer at
White House on Bonds
for Refinancing.
(Continued From First Page.)

few alternations that do not have White
House approval.
Hundreds of amendments have been
drawn by Senators who seek to revise
the provisions in the farm relief bill for
Investing unprecedented powers in the
Secretary Of Agriculture for controlling
crop surpluses.
In addition Senator McNary Of
Oregon, Republican leader. said he
would ask for hearings, a move which
would delay the speed with which the
emergency measure has been rushing
through the legislative mills.
The bill would apply to wheat, cot
ton, tobacco, corn, rice, hogs, cattle,
sheep, milk and its products. The Sec
rstary of Agriculture would attempt
to balance production and consumption
by agreements with farmers to reduce
their output in return for direct. pay
ments or rentals from lands taken out
Of production.
The payments would come from pro-
cesSing taxes levied on the commod-
tiles. Another part Of the plan would
give cotton planters the privilege Of
participating in pool of Government
owned cotton.
Among those demanding revision was
Chairman Smith Of the Senate Agricul-
ture Committee who planned to offer
2 substitute bill today. McNary said
he would propose that the pending
measure be limited to wheat and cot
ton unless Smith brings in something
entirely different.
House Passes Farm Bill.
The House passed the farm bill after
ewO days OF debate which revealed strong
criticism, but the Democratic ma
chimes great power put it across.
Seventy three Republicans, "a Demo-
Gratis and l Farmer-Laborite voted in
opposition. Thirty-nine Republicans
and four Farmer Laborites joined the
Democratic majority in favor.
While the House chamber echoed
with debate 1t was made known that
within the week the administration
would have ready its second step in the
farm f1eld-a plan for refinancing agri-
culture and home mortgages at lower
rates Of interest and amortization.
Senator Robinson, the Democratic
leader, said he planned to have
this new administration plan at
tached to the relief bill in the Senate.
Although this would require further
consideration OF the present bill by the
House, it is calculated to save time in
enacting the whole program.
Charges of "Sovietism" and Social
ism" were hurled at the measure in the
House
Representative Bierman tried to have
It returned to the Agriculture Commit
tee, which spent two days on the bill
behind closed doors, but was defeated,
197 to SO.
CHARGES TIncopstitut;oraI;tv
Beck, Republican, of Pennsylvania,
charged unconstitutionality, but the
other view was taken by Chairman
who conceded, nevertheless, that the
bill was radical"
Wadsworth, Republican, of New York,
former Senator, said he was stag
gered at the character of the BILL
Even from some of the big metro
politan areas the farm plan gathered
strong support. Only one man-Black
out of the big Tammany delegation
from New York City voted against the
bill.
It's actual provisions were discussed
only casually. But the bills chief con-
tent was the huge grant of power to
President Roosevelt and Secretary Wal
lace to be employed in boosting farm
Ouyu1R power.
Nine Commodities Listed.
The nine commodities were listed
Then the Secretary was told to secure
a higher purchasing power for these
commodities by establishing better
balance between production and con-
sumption.
To bring down production, he would
enter voluntary agreements with pro-
ducers to slash acreage and lower pro-
duction. In return for such curtail-
ments, the producer would be paid
direct benefits or rent on the withdrawn
acreage.
These payments would come out Of
the processing taxes levied on the COM
modities. The maximum tax allowed
would be the difference between actual
farm prices for a commodity and the
price which would give that commodity
Its pre-war purchasing value.
When this purchasing value IS reached
normally through adjustment of supply
and demand, this tax would be re-
moved. But the Secretary may raise
or lower it at any time to prevent shifts
In consumption.
Better to insure success OF the plan,
the Secretary is granted broad powers
to enter marketing agreements and TO
regulate, through a licensing system,
the handling of the commodities IN
Interstate commerce.
Added to the bills general plan was
kLo cv,;fI, cotfop hj1l-Uiven a nOcket