Evening star., 1937-12-04

culture Committee rushed drafting
OF bill no,0 scheduled for consideru-
tton. Among many critics Of bill as
drdwn are Secretary OF Agriculture
Wallace.
By the Associs tee Press.
Three administration supporters
Joined the critics of the complicated
Senate farm bill today, asking for
revisions which might delay vote
until January
Il don't think the bill can pass as
it stands now" said Senator Berry,
Democrat, of Tennessee. II am not
satisfied with it.
L would not be surprised If II will
be changed so much that its friends
will be willing to have it 60 back to
committee
Senator Pepper, Democrat, Of Flor
ida said he would not vote for the
bill unless broad changes were made.
Senator Wagner, Democrat, of New
York, who has sponsored many ad-
ministration measures, indicated he
would favor simplifying the complex
"ever-normal granary' and its at
tempts at crop control by compulsory
methods.
Their objections were added to op-
position voiced by a number of Sen
ators in two weeks of debate. Ma
jority Leader Barkley, trying to hasten
vote. called the Senate for its first
Saturday meeting this fall
Both House and Senate chieftains
want to end debate by next Wednes-
day, but prospects for a Senate vote
by that time were doubtful. Senator
Barkley was reported to be dickering
with Republican Leader McNary for
an agreement to limit discussion.
Program Is Tagging.
Only two and half weeks remain
of the special session, and so far
neither house has approved any item
on the Presidents program.
Senator King, Democrat, OF Utah
who has opposed numerous admins
tration measures, had the floor today
to offer an amendment that would
limit farm bill appropriations to $780,
100000 a year.
Senator Borah, Republican, of
Idaho returned to his old-time form
yesterday as the lion of Idaho" to
denounce the bill in a Commute ora
tion.
He said compulsion of farmers con-
stituted "bla ckmail" and that constant
red11ctiop of y,rod,,o+iop - ,,..;~4.;s
prices would be national suicide"
He advocated feeding surplus crops to
the needy.
Senator Wheeler. Democrat, of
Montana, suggested that Congress
and the Government departments
take little more time and pass ef-
fective legislation in the regular ses-
sion"
Most Senators agreed that II the
farm bill were sent back to commit
tee for revision it would not pass
until the regular session.
House Rejects Changes.
House leaders meanwhile swept
aside every major change proposed to
their bill except the amendment by
Representative Boileau, Progressive,
OF Wisconsin. Mr.. Boileaus amend
ment would deny soil conservation
payments to farmers who planted
dairy feed crops on acreage withdrawn
from cultivation of soil-depleting
crops.
Some leaders predicted that even
1t would be defeated-or at least modi-
hed-when the final vote is taken.
Their most immediate concern,
however, was a promise by Repre-
sentative Patman. Democrat of Texas
to demand that the House substitute
payment OF parity" prices to farmers
for provisions calling for discretionary
loans to growers of wheat, cotton and
corn.
The House overrode Republican
suggestions to tighten compulsory con-
troll retirements, but decided tenta-
lively to limit to $500 benefits pay
able to a single farmer. Members
rejected proposals of Mr.. Boileau end
Representative Hoffman, Republican,
OF Michigan to nullify the committees
Ideas that compulsory marketing
quotas for tobacco should be approved
by vote of two-thirds of the growers.
Waxe-Hour Battle Impends.
In the House, battle lines we're
forming for consideration of the ad-
ministration's wage-hour bill on De-
cember 13. Opponents expect to try
to return it to the Labor Committee
for revision and thus tie it up until
the regular 1888 session.
A drastic bill with formidable teeth
In it will be urged on Congress by
the American Federation of Labor.
President William Green disclosed last
night.
The measure would provide a fiat
minimum wage of 40 cents an hour
and a fiat maximum work week of
40 hours for workers engaged in in.
terstate business.
II an employer violated the law, the
worker would simply report to the
nearest representative of the Justice
Department, and that department
would prosecute the employer, Mr..
Green explained.
The measure differs in major re-
spects from the bill now pending. The
latter would give an administrative
board wide discretion in fixing mini
mum wages of 40 cents an hour or less
and maximum hours Of 40 q week or