Evening star., 1933-03-21
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A Rough Road.


The administration farm bill threatens
70 raise more of a row in Congress than
even the controversial Roosevelt econ
omy bill now a law. A farm bill that
did not raise q row would be the eighth
wonder Of the world. Some Of the
Democrats, including the chairman OF
the House Committee on Agriculture,
Marvin Jones Of Texas, believe that
several provisions Of the bill are unnec-
essary and likely to lead to trouble.
Mr.. Jones, although he did not 60 so
far as to announce determination to
fight the measure on the floor OF the
House, declined to introduce the bill,
and that duty falls to the ranking DEM
ocratic member Of the Agricultural
Committee, Representative Fulmer Of
eouth Carolina.
The Republicans, inclined to oppose
features Of the farm bill as unsound,
have been further incensed over the
amendment made In the measure by the
Democrats Of the Committee on Agri-
culture to take out Of the civil service
all the Federal employees and officers
needed for the enforcement Of the act
Minority Leader Smell Immediately Is
sued blast declaring that If that was
to be the kind Of legislation proposed
by the Democrats-legislation calcu-
lated to give an army of job-seeking
Democrats preference, no matter what
their qualifications-the era of good will
and cooperation on the hill has come
to an end.
Notwithstanding the ructions over the
farm bill, the Democratic leaders are
intent upon driving the measure
through the House under whip and
spur with a special rule allowing four
hours for debate and providing for
vote ON the bill at the close Of that
time. No amendment will be In order.
The Republicans say that 1t is gag"
rule. However, that is the kind Of rule
that has been used In the House on
many occasions when an administra-
ton has desired to drive measures
through. The House recently adopted
such q resolution to put through the
economy bill.
There is grave danger, however, that
the drastic and far reaching measures,
proposed to lift the prices OF agri-
cultural products may prove in the end
great hardships. In the first place. the
rise in costs to consumers has been esti-
mated by Secretary Wallace of the De-
pertment Of Agriculture at $500, 900, 600
. year. 1t is conceivable that the rise
In prices, If the measures adopted are
really effective, might 60 much higher.
Then there Is the cost of administra-
ton, which primarily must be borne by
the Government, estimated in some
quarters as high as 100000, 900.
Eventually these costs of administration
would come back to the Government in
the shape OF taxes levied upon proc
sssors" Of food products. The Secre-
tary Of Agriculture is given vast
dictatorial powers in the bill-powers to
license all professors Of food. millers,
packers, manufacturers. dairymen and
all the huge army involved in hand
ling the food Of the Nation. It is
no wonder that the bill threatens to
rase protest and has raised already
m h opposition.
Though the measure may be driven
Through the House without amendment
Is 1t comes from the Committee on
Agriculture, 1t must also run the
gantlet Of the Senate. Already amend
ments and substitutes are in preparation
In the Upper House.
The President, in sending the farm
bill to Congress, declared that q grave
emergency existed necessitating aid for
the farmers Of America. Upon the
restoration Of agricultural prices, 1t Is
contended, rests recovery Of the coun-
try. Frankly the President said that
the measure he was sending to the
Congress was an experiment. It must
be. Also 1t Is perfectly obvious that
Stuffs to the consumer will not be joy
fully received by the millions of men
and women who live in the cities.
Nevertheless, there has been Q real
maladjustment OF prices of farm prod
uce and the prices Of industrial goods,
between the farmers dollar and the
dollar Of the industrial worker. Whether
the artificial aids proposed in the
Roosevelt farm bill will succeed or not
the President does not undertake to
predict. But II they are turned down,
the Congress must be prepared to sub
NIT something more effective in their
place.