The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
FARMERS FORMING TRUSTS.
SO SAYS STA TTsTICIAN HOLMES OF
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
He Instances the Milk Producers' Union of
Boston-A Movement of Farmers to Pro-

He Instances the Milk Producers' Union of
Boston-A Movement of Farmers to Pro-
tect Themselves from the MiddlemsD.
WARRINGTON. June 24.-Mr. George X.
Holmes. Statistician OF the Department Of Az
riculture. was witness before the Industrial
Commission this afternoon. His testimony
dealt with the economic conditions to which
farming and farmers are subject After brief
discussion Of the vastness OF the agricultural
element in the country. he proceeded to con-
Sideraton OF the wages and earnings Of agri-
cultural labor. He said
Since 1896 the Department OF Agriculture
has collected statistics Of the wage rates paid
to agricultural laborers in all Of the States ard
Territories. and the statistics have been
brought down to 1895. In the last-named
year an agricultural lnborcr on the average
received Sl7,Go per month. without board.
during his actual employment. This is de-
cline OF 81 40 from tho average for 1893 when
the financial depression began. and when the
farm laborers wage rate was higher In this
country than at any time since 1889. when it
was S1D.40 in gold
I'm the recommendations that you may
mako with regard to trusts. beg that you
will bear in mind the immense agricultural
interests OF the country. The farming element
constitutes ono-third OF our population, and
while the capital owned by this fraction OF our
vested In manufacturing and mechanical in
dustries, yet. after all. 1t is numbers OF people
rather than dollars OF wealth that are entitled
to primary consideration.
"A trust is not restricted in its nature to an
association OF men who are millionaires and
manufacturers Of refined sugar. or OF cotton
seed oil, but 1t may include common everyday
farmers. dairymen and fruit growers. and as
matter OF fact these mon have been organizing
fruc 10 ND inc tha moi laaa a,,o-
cesstully. and are anxious to do so in all parts
OF the country and in some cases upon q large
scale. There is trust movement among agri
culturists which has obtained a successful foot
hold after many failures. and the fundamental
Farmers are SO numerous that they are fire.
auently and severely subject to competition
ucts. and probably more than any other class
OF producers are naturally at the mercy OF the
he and dispose Rs hs farm tn
wholesale dealers or consumers. The farmer
sdsS es bs i he ssks capital Un
reach consumers directly, and SO. operating in
dependently. he is compelled to accept the ser
vices of the middeman, and the middleman
buys from the farmer practically upon commits;
sion and sells for cash or upon short time. and
thus without furnishing much IL any. capital
himself. compes the farmer to supply the CAPT.
tai for his on ,S and makes the farmer
esty o. the middIeman and his false reports
with regard to the prices he receives. II he
sells upon commission"
After showing the causes that led the farm
GUS cases where these associations have
become virtual trusts; He instanced the Milk
ago" he said. the he milk market situation in
Boston was this: The buyers-that is. the
shS5eh !" Pix IN Ns% ns
may have been selling to dealer i under
with this a-sociation Of milk buyers. because
each individual dealer was acting in
Us e9mhinati9n unadad. The farmer
made under unequal conditions. In the course
of time they formed an association for the
reprrsen,ar,vcs with the Boston milk dealers
AItnc business is now carried on. representa-
t'N"S o. both organizations meet every year
and agree unon prices for the remainder OF
the yrar. This Arrangement is satisfactory to
has hnck Of him the entire combination Of
farm RS ma. SUNNY mtlE TO- Boston. ,
forth" r',-ross Of saltng r"n4nnrative prices.
for s,H,prc,sirE competition among them
E YES. for getting lover freight rates and Tor
NM = responsible customers III the East and
"Iclaim that any legislation aimed at the
d"Ntrn lion or regulation Of trusts will Apply to
numerous farmers organizations. mainly hay
I'M; the object Of rnarNrtinC farm products. The
shoult 6r gradually 'y,inGuished by limiting
the credit hat may h. placed on the cotton crop
making the limit a diminishing one year by
year. until SOM low minimum rates between
thc "rrgl,t and the value OF the crop shall be
reached"
The frat witness before the Industrial Com:
mission to-day was Mr.. A. G. True director OF
the experimental stations of the Department Of
Agriculture. He briefly outlined the work Of
statement os the system upon which they are
operated. He said that opposition to hook
learning was rapidly dying out and he advised
an agricultural course for the public schools.
preparatory to the agricultural colleges
To assist in the prosecution Of it's inquiries.
fhn pnT mi sci on hn a N on cd n
well known in economic,and statistical fields. to
look into certain topics concerning which the
ton.