The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-07

restored, now go and hoe your own |
row?'" he asked
After referring directly to "ad-
iudication by the highest tribunal
he added, The Congress has the
right and can find the means 70
protect its own prerogatives.
Developments Outlined
Out of the confusion of The first
numbed reaction to the courts
crushing blow emerged a number
of possible developments:
l. Agitation for constitutional
amendment 10 give Congress powers
now denied it. particularly to con-
troll crop production.
2. Adoption of an equalization fee,
an export debenture, or a domestic
allotment plan, the first two often
proposed during Republican Admin
istrations
3. Separation of processing taxes
from production control provisions.
T. Proposals to curb the power OF
the Supreme Court 10 invalidate
acts Of Congress.
5. Enactment of state crop reduc-
ton programs under Federal sub
sidy.
6. A popular clamor Cor Or against
drastic Federal action.
White House Is Silent
Notable was the silence from the
White House. where the chief ex-
ecutive conferred with his farm aids.
Official and political comment was
as confused and divided as reaction
in farm villages. in cities. in towns.
Surveying the wreckage, they
found that all control of agricul-
tural production was barred. All
nope for reviving an AAA under
present conditions was gone. 1t
seemed inevitable that other laws
regarded as important would be
hurled along the same pathway of
unconstitutionality.
AS its first move to bring some
order out of the chaos caused by
the Supreme Courts decision, New
Deal leaders at White House con-
ference last night decided to spon-
sor a bill to appropriate about
$3.50 100000 on which the govern
ment is already committed for crop
reduction next session.
1t was expected to be a matter of
days before White House opin-
ion on permanent strategy would be
forthcoming.
The effect Of the 6-to-3 decision
by which the court struck down the
Administrations basic farm aid
statute was so momentous that is
sues considered of tremendous in
terest a few hours before were al
most forgotten.
Benefit Payments Stop
In rigorous adherence to yester-
days decision, the Administration
overnight stopped, temporarily at
least, all benefit payments and COL
lection OF processing taxes under the
Agricultural Adjustment Act.
The pay of 6646 AAA workers was
stopped, as was any immediate pay
ment on $282.910.348 or more of
money due farmers on 1885 crop re-
auction contracts. The proposed
appropriation would discharge some
of that obligation.
The decision threw into uncer-
tainty the status of processing taxes
collected under the law. They to-
tailed 1868, 073,612 to Jan. 5. At that
time an additional S201 100000 was
held in escrow in the courts where
professors fought against making
the payment under the amendments
to the original AAA.
The status of the latter fund
probably will be decided by the
courts in the pending rice case.
The decision had paralyzing
effect on Washington. For months
the source OF action, Washington
tuned an ear to the rest of America
to learn how the country's millions
received the news.
Green Demands Action
Senator Edward P. Costigan Cd,
Cold, who is sponsoring consti
p'ViCAoA VI give Con-
gress the broadcast powers over in
dustry and agriculture. said the
decision imposed on Congress "the
imperative obligation of submitting
to the states constitutional
amendment which will permit
adaptable Federal legislation if and
when it is required by the gen.
eral welfare to cope with such
bitter peace-time crises as our peo-
pie have experienced.
1T is inconceivable, Mr.. Costigan
said, that Congress which is en-
powered to declare war with all this
implies will be content to remain
powerleSs to deal with economic dis
orders which if unremedied may
| force the nation into paths as diff
flcult and disastrous as war"
President William Green of the
American Federation of Labor said
the decision made the neces-
sity for an amendment to the Con.
stltution more imperative"