Crowded Out

All last spring Secretary of Agriculture Wallace was busy with the aid of farm leaders concocting a new farm bill, something to succeed the Soil Conservation Act (hurriedly passed when AAA was invalidated), something permanent and inclusive--to begin with soil conservation payments, continue with the ever-normal granary (Joseph) plan, and be driven home with production control when the ever-normal granary gets abnormally full. Three weeks ago in press conference Franklin Roosevelt remarked that this was all a fine idea and he hoped some action would be taken on it. However, the President did not put it on his "ought" list (TIME, June 14). Last week a delegation marched into Mr. Wallace's offices.

Head of the delegation was Joseph T. Robinson, Democratic leader of the Senate. Backing him were the Messrs. Bankhead and Pope of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Representative Marvin Jones, head of the like committee of the House. At first Mr. Wallace was reluctant to agree to what was urged upon him. He was pressed with the point that his bill would boost the Government's expenses about $100,000,000 next year, that it is late in the season and Congress is left with a great deal to do. On condition that Congressional committees would continue study of his plan this summer, have everything ready for Congressional action next January, he finally gave in. After heads had been put together for two hours, Mr. Wallace's big farm plan came out feet first so far as the present session of Congress is concerned.

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