The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-11-11
Chairman Jones of the house agri.
Jones
Drafts Bills

convened. Several
weeks prior to the opening day OF
the special session, Mr.. Jones ap-
pointed six subcommittee; each
was charged with drafting legis-
lation applicable to a specific COM
modify. In doing this, Mr.. Jones
threw the door wide open. He in
cluded six farm crops to share the
alleged benefits of crop control leg
lslation, including the lever nor
NAL granary" surplus control pro-
gram. The subcommittee were di-
rected to work out legislation COW
erlng cotton, wheat, corn, tobacco,
rice and dairy products. Inclusion
of rice and dairy products came as
surprise. Heretofore, there had
been little talk about includ 'ng rice
and none about dairy products. The
information that filters into Wash
ington is that majority of the dairy
people have no particular laundering
for government dictation in their
business. Chairman Smith of the
senate agricultural committee like
summer he has been attempting to
get line on farmer sentiment by
number of hearings in various parts
OF the country. From all indica-
tons, Chairman Smith, who comes
from South Carolina and is a farm
er in his own right, is not enthusiast
tic about too much government die
tation in the field of agriculture. It
is evident as well that some mem
bers of the senate committee feel
the same way as Mr.. Smith does.
Over on the house side of the Capt.
toll, Secretary Wallace has many fol-
lowers. Obviously, he will coop
crate with them very closely. In
deed, some of the house members
who do not like Mr.. Wallace or his
lever normal granary" scheme are
referring to the Wallace supporters
in the house as Henry Wallace's
boys" That indicates better than
anything can say how deep-seat-
ed the feelings are.
To add to the completely of the
job facing congress, President
Roosevelt has said definitely that
if there are subsidies paid to farm
ers in connection with crop control
legislation, that legislation must
carry additional taxes to take care
of the bounty payments authorized.
Simmered down, therefore, what
Mr.. Roosevelt has said is that if
the farmers want that kind of crop
control legislation, they and all con-
sumers must pay for it with add
ed taxes.
have heard general commenda-
ton of the Presidents position. 1t
surely represents straightforward
policy by the Chief Executive in this
regard. He has told the country
now that he is willing to support
agricultural subsidies through con-
troll of the crops if the whole country
which has to pay the bill is willing
to bear the extra taxes that are re-
quired.
Having presented the picture as
I see it, it seems almost unneces-
Sary to add that
TUo Big there will be two
Lobbies enormous Hobbies
bearing down on
congress in the special session as
well as probably in the regular ses-
sion that convenes in January. /
think I foresee now how Secretary
Wallace and those who believe with
him are going to operate both with
in and without the administration.
That is to say, there will be admins
tration pressure and when anyone
says that there is administration
pressure, they are saying nothing
more or less than that the admins
tration is lobbying. It has always
been that way and it is no excep-
ton that the Roosevelt administra-
ton does the same sort of thing.
The other lobby will embrace
considerable representation of farm
er sentiment that is opposed to
Washington dictation and which
feels that additional taxes will have
to be absorbed in part at least by
agriculture. This happened in the
case of processing tax which was
thrown out as unconstitutional. It
will happen in every case for the
reason that no one is going to abb
sorb taxes when they can be passed
on. When they are passed on to
the farmers, that is the end because
the farmer has no place to send
them. The consumer is in the same
fix.
In addition to this farm senti-
ment, the lobby in opposition to the
Wallace program likely will find
certain phases of other industry
aligned with it. 1t will in all prob
ability find a certain share or seq
ment of consumer opposition be-
cause the consumers will have to
pay in higher prices. 1t is the age
old battle between those who have
something to sell and who naturally
want the greatest return possible
therefrom and those who have to
buy and naturally want to buy at
the lowest price at which they can
procure their needs.
In view of these circumstances.
it seems fair and safe to predict
that bitter division is likely to
take place in congress. l do not
know how lasting that division may
be nor what it will do to the political
fortunes of many who get out in
front as leaders on either side.
The whole circumstance is going
to be influenced directly as well as
indirectly by the fact that scores of
primary elections will be held early
next spring. This will be especial
ly influential among house members
because all of the house members
come up for reelection next year