The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-04-06
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National Topics Interpreted - fffTTS5Y6&
by William Bruckart <I5n<IT31E


They are signs that never fail. Rep
resentatives from agricultural areas
have been getting mail from home and
there are many Of the house members
who now insist 1t Is time to call
halt. Frankly, hear frequent sharp
declarations that the professors in the
administration have gone far enough.
That means votes against the bills.
Yet the professors are hard workers.
They never cease to turn out new
plans, and the proposals continue to
flow from the White House to the
Capitol. Among the newer projects Is
one that proposes to establish a set of
government banks to aid what the
promoters describe as the small busi-
ness. The plan contemplates creation
of the regional banks much after the
manner of the Federal Reserve banks,
with the treasury supplying the ini-
tiation capital to the extent of $780,
100000.
Here, again, is an emergency meas
ure. 1t is pointed out, however, that
the project is de-
Banking for signed for perma-
Industry nency 1t is, there
fore, move by
which the federal government, through
a step-child, would be put into the
business of banking for industry, and,
of course, once that happens, the sys-
TEN will hang on and on. 1t will hold
so much commercial paper, represent
ing loans, that there really will be no
time when it can quit and retire from
business.
/ was talking with rather well
known senator about the plan, the
other day, and he voiced his private
objections most vigorously. He sug-
gested that there was grave danger
Of the industrial loan system being
strongly influenced by politics and
that this condition surely would lead
to the making of loans improperly
secured, loans that no sound bank
would dare make.
81 will tell you just how far that
thing could co." he added. ut could
easily reach the point where, If
business man wanted to borrow money,
he would have to go into the bank
on the arm of an office holder"
And this senator is Democrat,
member of the senate for years! The
incident is related here, however, be-
cause it shows the line of cleavage
that has developed. 1t demonstrates,
indeed, that no longer is legislation
being put through congress just be-
cause the administration wants it.
Another piece of legislation that is
going to have rough shedding is the
Roosevelt tariff adjustment proposal.
1t says on the face Of the bill that it is
emergency legislation. Down in the
text, however, there is provision
that any of the international tariff
agreements reached under provisions
of the bill may be renewed and that
they will continue in force as long as
one nation or the other, parties to the
accord, do not give notice of cancel
lation. The opposition holds this to
be a proposal for permanent legisla-
ton under the guise of emergency
plans.
Some of the few Republicans left in
the senate and house have been child
ing the Democratic leaders about the
tariff proposals of the administration
because they would delegate to the
President and the tariff commission
more authority to revise rates upward
or downward than nov exists. The
Republicans are recalling to their
Democratic friends how the Democrats
fought against this idea when it was
proposed by President Coolidge and by
President Hoover, although neither of
those Presidents included interna-
tional agreements with the rate re-
vision idea. Quite humorous situa-
ton has developed as a result.
Officials of the Department of Agri-
culture admit little about reported
criticism they re-
Formers ceive. They con-
nh;.~t tend that criticism is
to be expected and
that, under the AAA plans being
nodded by Administrator Davis, the
organization and rules are to be kept
flexible. l understand, however, that
there is quite bit of objection reach
ing the department about the neces-
sity for farmers allowing government
agents to examine their records. The
reports I get are to the effect that
since most of the facts have to be
gathered by county representatives Of
the Washington government. many
farmers do not like the idea Of neigh
bors knowing all about their affairs.