The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-04-20
TO HELP THE FARMERS.
Provisions of Remarkable Bill Intro
duced by Representative Featherston.

Provisions of Remarkable Bill Intro
duced by Representative Featherston.
A remarkable bill is that now before the Agri-
cultural Committee, entitled GA bill to provide
for the relief of the agricultural population of
the United States, and to promote and encour-
age agriculture" Hon. L. 2. Featherston, Of
Arkansas, who successfully contested the seat
occupied by Congressman Cate, is the author of
the bill, and judging from the number of letters
Of inquiry he has received on the subject, it is
evidently attracting attention from the farmers.
The bill is carefully drawn, and starts out by
calling attention to the impoverished condition
of the farmers and farm laborers, and the fact
The Featherston bill proposes to relieve
that many crops are grown at an actual loss.
the distress of the farmers by providing that
any citizen who owns and resides upon
any tract of land containing not less than ten
nor more than three hundred and twenty acres
of land, one-half of which is in actual cultiva-
ton. may apply to the Secretary of the Treas
ury and secure a loan not to exceed one-half
the assessed value of the land and improve
ments thereon. The loans are to run for not
less than five nor more than ten years, at the
rate of 2 per cent. per annum. A bureau OF
loans is to be established in the Treasury De-
partment to attend all business relating to
loans Loan agents are to be appointedin each
Congressional district composed, wholly or in
part, of agricultural lands. Upon receipt OF
application for loan the application is to be
turned over to the agent, whose duty shall be to
examine into the title and assessed value of the
tract of land upon which the loan is asked. If
the land is unencumbered and the applicant
has clear title then the mortgage blanks, pro-
vided for by the bill, are filled out and a draft
for the amount of the loan is sent the applicant.
The interest on the loan is to be paid annually,
but failure to pay the interest two consecutive
years entities the Government to foreclose. The
lands reverting to the Government by foreclos-
ure are to be ''added to the public domain and
held Cor sale to actual settlers at the amount
loaned thereon with 10 per cent. added there
unto.h
The bill is constructed somewhat on a line
with the views entertained by Senator Stanford.
An intelligent Western farmer, in conversation
with THE SUNDAY HERALD reporter on the
Featherston bill, said II have made close
study of Mr.. Featherston's relief bill, and
must say it hits the nail squarelY on the head.
We farmers are as deserving of the Govern
ment as the bankers and money lenders The
Secretary of the Treasury designates certain
banks to be Government repositories, and the
banks have the use of Uncle Sam's money with
out interest, but we have to pay interest to the
| banks for all the money we borrow from them. -
''Mr. Featherston," continued the farmer,
observes the thanks of the agricultural classes,
! and his constituents are to be congratulated on
having a representative who so we'll under
stands their wants"