FARMERS: Second Thought

In 1934 Congress wrestled long with the cotton problem, finally passed the Bankhead Act compelling cotton farmers to obey AAA by putting a heavy tax on anyone who produced more than his quota. Two months later Congress wrestled again and did the same thing for tobacco growers. Last summer Congress wrestled a third time, handed potato growers a similar gift. Last week Congress had a second thought on all three subjects.

On the President’s recommendation, the Senate repealed the three acts in 60 seconds, without a roll call. Next day the House, after an hour’s half-hearted debate, voted 165-to-5 for repeal.

Reason that second thought came easier to Congress than first thought: Study of the Supreme Court’s majority and minority opinions in declaring AAA unconstitutional indicated that not only would the cotton, tobacco and potato acts be found unconstitutional but the Court’s vote would probably have been unanimous. Instead of waiting to receive another judicial kick in the pants, New Dealers decided to discard the pants in advance.