The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-03-04
Observations From
Washington
We Get A Set Back
BY Congressman Harold Knutso

We Get A Set Back
On the opening day of the pres
emit session of Congress introduc-
ed House Joint Resolution which
would permit farmers in the
drought areas who are owing the
government for feed and seed to
work off their Indebtedness on
farm-to-market roads and to pay
the workers a reasonable amount
for living expenses while so en-
gagged. In accordance with practice
H J. Res. 60 was referred to the
Secretary of Agriculture for an OPP
inion. On February 20 the Secre-
tary wrote the Chairman Of the
House Committee on Agriculture
that while he was in sympathy
with the purpose of my resolution
the administrative difficulties that
would be encountered in carrying
it out were so great as to make 1t
impracticable. Secretary Wallace
also stated that "the legislation
proposed by III. j. Res. 60 would not
be in accordance with the financial
program of the President" While /
realize that this sounds the death
knell for the legislation in this ses-
sion I have not given up hope that
sooner or later I will be successful
because something like this has to
be done If we ever hope to get the
debt harassed farmer back on his
feet.
Farm Loan Interest Rates
I am working on, and have about
ready to introduce, a bill to reduce
the interest rates on Commissioner
loans made by the Federal Farm
Loan Banks to 31s per cent. There
will probably be those who will say
that this rate is too low but to
such I wish to call attention to the
fact that nine of our debtor ma
tons in Europe are only being
charged 3.3 per cent, while one
country pays 1.8 per cent, another
1.6 per cent, another per cent,
while Italy is only paying A per
cent. OF course, none are paying
anything. I believe that my readers
are unanimously Of the opinion
that no American farmer would
show such disregard for his obliga-
tons as have those countries that
we saved from possible destruction
back in 1917-18 A discharge rule,
which will permit the Frazier
Lemke Farm Refinancing bill to be
brought into the House, will short
ly be presented for signature. I
will again vote for this measure, as
I have on two former occasions. IT
l. is true that agriculture is the
basic industry then the quicker we
can get the farmer back on his
feet the better for all concerned.
An Avalanche of Protests
To date we have received over
600 letters protesting against the
Presidents plan to enlarge the
Supreme Court and but two COM
munications in favor of the Presi-
dents proposal-one from labor
organization and the other from an
individual. I can not recall when
there has been so much interest,
and, may add apprehension, as is
evinced in these letters and some
of the things that they are saying
about this rubber-stamp Congress
are anything but complimentary
Alas, I admit that they are merit
ed. I am told that it is the Presi-
dents plan to make this party
issue but there are scores and
scores of Democrats in the two
Houses of Congress who will re-
fuse to permit the issue to be
made a partisan one. Such out
standing Democratic leaders as
Senators Wheeler, of Montana
King, of Utah, Copeland. of New
York, Glass and Byrd, of Virginia
Smith, of South Carolina, Connally
of Texas, and Congressman Cox, OF
Georgia, Wilcox, of Florida, Pet
tengill, of Indiana, and Lamneck
of Ohio, are leading the fight. The
Republicans are saying little for
fear that it might be made party
issue. I am inclined to think that
Senator Borah's proposed amend
ment to the constitution making
the states supreme on all social
legislation will solve the whole
matter is a most happy manner
The first round of the fight will be
in the Senate and I am rather OF
the opinion that the proposal will
meet the same fate as did the pro
posal back in 1919 that we join the
League of Nations, unless the
President can swing enough sena-
tors into line by persuasion or the
use of patronage, both very potent
implements.
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