Tiny Bill

"Farm relief legislation is dead. So are chances for Republican control of the next Congress," said Democratic Publicity Director G. Hunter Osborne. The first is true enough, and as for the second, the

Republicans themselves are cautious in denial.

President Coolidge's gentle plan to help the farmer, the Fess Bill, was voted down emphatically, 54 to 26, after six hours of muddy verbiage. Senator Fess had a rough time protecting his bill.

"Just keep your shirt on, and tell me where you got that amortization amendment," said Senator Norris, shaking his insurgent finger.

"From an old bill of Senator Capper," meekly replied Senator Fess.

"Senator Capper is the author of more bills that he hasn't read than any other member of this body," bellowed Mr. Norris. . . .

"Where did you get those figures?" snapped ever-snapping Senator Reed (Mo.).

"From the Department of Agriculture," said Mr. Fess.

"I undertake to say that they are utterly unreliable," snorted Mr. Reed.

Thereupon, Senator Hiram Johnson, California sage, epigrammaticaily remarked: "It's the old army game."

Later in the evening with Senator Fess's plan cleared away, the Senate went on an agricultural rampage. Members jammed the aisles, waving bills and amendments, dispensing sarcasm. Vice President Dawes rapped for order and rapped again; Senators yelled desperately that they did not know what they were voting on. Finally, at 9:20 p. m., emerged a tiny bill, sponsored by the Administration. For the establishment of a co-operative marketing division within the Department of Agriculture, it appropriated $225,000. (Most farm bills deal in hundreds of millions.)