Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-10
HOPE 70 PUT DENT
N LIVING COST
DEMOCRATS OF CONGRESS SEEK.
ING MAY TO MAKE GOOD ON
PROMISES.
PLATFORM PLEDGES ON
PRICES NOT FULFILLED
A. First Step in Reducing Cost q
Living Congress Will Seek 70 Pass
Smith. Lever Sill, Aiming 1t Better
Farming and Increased Production
Fears For Congressional Campaign.
Especial correspondenee.l

& =
Especial CorTespondence.1
Washington, Dec. 10. - With the
gloon, Of the high cost Of living hanS-
ing thick over congress. that body U
going to devote lot OF time this WIN
ter to efforts to give the consumer
some relief. Having promised lavishly
in the last campaign to cut down living
costs and having failed UP to this time
to make any perceptible dents in the
surface Of high prices. the democratic
leaders feel that it il up TO them to DO
something. They fear what may hap
pen in the 1914 congressional campaign
unless they are able to point to lower
prices OF the ordinary articles of food
and clothing which every family has
to purchase.
Agricultural Extension Work.
The passage Of the Smith-Lever bill
to promote agricultural demonstration
and extension work Is one OF the meas
ures which congress will put thru. This
bill, tho 1t can not at once affect hv-
ing costs. has for Ats ultimate object
the increased production OF American
farms. In the long run. II works out
as expected to by its promoters, It
will have that tendency.
Agricultural demonstration and ex-
tension work IL already being pro-
NOTED BY the department Of aEricul-
ture and by various state agricultural
departments or colleges. Secretary
Wilson saw the WISDOM OF the
ment to have eNpert men train the
farmers Of the country how to do bet
ter farming and to train them. not by
long distance advice, but by personal
contact and personal direction. Secre-
tary Houston IL also deeply impressed
with the value Of giving farmers tho
benefits Of such expert assistance
Aims at Better Farming.
The Smdth-Lever bill 10 intended TO
for the establishment and maintenance
colleges Of agriculture.
Duties Of this department will be TO
give instruction and demonstrations In
agriculture and homo economies to
persons not attending tho Agricultural
college. In word. II l. intended TO
train the farmer to do better farming
and to train the housewife to keep
house. And this training WIN DO given
in the various communities 20 that
persons do not have to 90 from their
homes and attend college TO get val
liable and up to date information about
agriculture and homo economies. a
fixed appropriation Of 10000 unoondi<
tionalIy to each state u allowed with
liberal appropriations amounting to
$4,000, 900 q year to be apporuoned
among the states on the basis OF rural
population. But no state viii get it,
prorata share Of this until II has put
up an equal amount
Recently. at the meeting here Of
Representatives Of state AGRICULTURAL
colleges and experiment stations. there
was strong sentiment for the passage
Of the bill. And the expectation IL
congress will pass It While . great
deal Of demonstration and extension
work 10 now carried on, there 10 q vast
field for enlargement Of this SORT Of In.
struction.
Agricultural and homo economies
extension training. which has been at.
tempted with success in states like
Iowa and 6arm demonstration training,
which has gained q foothold in tho
south, have proven that they are Of
great value.
Has etrons Support
Various organisations are urging con-
gress to pass the smith-Lever bill One
Of them IL the Nauonai SOIL Fertility
League. with headquarters ct Chicago.
This organization Is sending congress
figures to show the imperative need Of
great agricultural production In the
United States. The figures. which are
approximate, are striking. It is shown
that:
This country has bout nve acres
Of titled land per person and In nifty
years the population may be expected
to double.
We now consume 81 per cent Of our
wheat and % per cent Of cur corn.
Cattle exports from the United
States declined Is per cent in six years
and cattle imports increased 1000 per
cent IN six years.
The number Of beef cattle declined
in six years 80 per cent or from 81. $685.
900 n 1907 to 8s.0s0.00o In 1913.
Meantime. population grows steadily
and the country 10 confronted with m
expanding population and = diminish
ing food supply.
0rinnsli and Vicinity.
Special 10 Times-Republican.
0rinnsl, Dec. 1o.-The Brotherhood
meeting had full attendance last eve-
nin1 anAp : plAaaant socau hour before