Evening star., 1936-01-23
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Serious friction over the new admin
istratlon farm program developed in
the Senate Agriculture Committee to-
day when Republicans refused to serve
on a subcommittee to study the soil
conservation plan and Senator Smith
Democrat of South Carolina reluct-
anuy accepted the craftsmanship.
Smith, chairman of the full Agricul-
ture Committee but who deferred to
Senator Bankhead, Democrat. of Ala
bama, to introduce the soil-improving
subsidy measure in the Senate, told
reporters after closed committee
meeting:
"I'll support this bill when it con-
forms to the Constitution"
Smith said Senators McNary of Ore
gon. the Republican leader, and Norris,
Republican, of Nebraska declined to
serve on the subcommittee Of five
which was named to study the plan
and report back to the full committee
by Saturday.
Wallace and Davis Called.
The subcommittee, composed only
of Democrats Smith, Bankhead,
Murphy Of Iowa, Pope Of Idaho and
Hatch of New Mexico-immediate.y
went into session and decided to call
Secretary Wallace and Chester Davis,
who administered A. A. A., for exam
ination at another closed session later
in the day.
Coincidentally, the House Agric1l-
ture Committee, at closed meeting
on the new legislation, decided to
hear Davis tomorrow. Chairman
Jones said there will be some changes"
in the bill, but declined to forecast
what they might be- There were in
dications language might be added 10
specify that the present measure is
to be followed by permanent pro-
gram based on State cooperation.
Senator Smith plainly indicated
how he stood on the bill.
Calls Position "Unfortunate."
"Unfortunately they made me chair
man Of the subcommittee, he said.
when the subcommittee completes its
work, I'll give you my opinion. Every
thing is going to depend on what the
subcommittee does"
What are you going to do for
money!" reporter asked.
"Just reach up and grab it out Of
the air." Smith replied, throwing an
arm up.
It was learned the Senate commit
tee discussed the constitutionality of
the measure at length. Some argued
it could be framed to conform to the
Sureme Courts A. A. A. decision:
others, including Norris, contended
otherwise
Norris has taken the position that
the bill, in his opinion, is constitu-
tional, but under the A. A. A. ruling
it Is not.
Public Hearings Suggested.
Bankhead said McNary suggested
public hearings on the bill, but no
action was taken on this point.
"We've been studying this subject
two years." Bankhead said. who can
tell us anything we don't know"
Norris would not give his reasons
for declining to serve on the sub
committee, except to say:
II gave my views yesterday; let 1t
60 at that" y
Bankhead argued no one could show
any damage under the new bill and
thus none Of its opponents could get
legal foothold to carry fight to the
courts.
Cites Ban on Contracts.
He also pointed out the Government
would make no contracts with pro-
ducers. A. A. A. production control
contracts were invalidated as part Of
an illegal plan to purchase compliance
with q system designed to regulate
agriculture.
The legislation, in the form Of
amendments to the 1885 soil cOnserva-
ton act, would enable Wallace to pay
producers for devoting certain acreage
to soil building crops or to prevention
Of erosion.