Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-17
Mission of Rural Organization
Bureau Under Department
of Agriculture.
AID TO THE FARMERS
IN HANDLING PRODUCTS
Charles ]. Brand Appointed Chief of
New Division-Secretary
Houstons Comment.

Preliminary to the general work of the
rural organization service that is to be
taken up by the Department of Agrcul-
ture, Secretary Houston has appointed
Charles J. Brand of Illinois as chief OF
the division of markets in the new serv-
ice. This new officer will undertake to
organize cooperative marketing and to
eliminate. as far as possible. possible
waste, loss and unnecessary charges in
handling farm products.
In speaking of the new division today
Secretary Hn"ston said:
MIR. Brand is a graduate of the Univer-
sity of Minnesota and has been in the
service of the department nearly ter
years, coming from Chicago, where for
several years he had charge of the sec
ton of plant economics of the Field Mu-
scum of Natural History. He has been
engaged in several important lines of
work during his connection with the de-
partment. and for the last year has had
charge of the farmers cooperative cot
ton handling and marketing and paper
plant investigations Of the bureau of
plant industry.
Demand for Government Action.
There has been an insistent and
growing demand that the government
take steps to help in the establishment
of economic systems of distribution
and marketing of farm products. Con-
gress at the last regular session made
the work. We recognize that the busi-
ness of farming is an important part
Of the great business structure Of the
country, and economical methods OF
u he
plying of farmers with proper credit
facilitates at reasonable interest rates
are the great practical problems that
must be settled before radical improve
ment in the social and economic condi-
tions of country life can be attained.
Somewhat better prices for the pro-
ducer and lower costs or better products
for the consumer and manufactures are
the aim of the work 1t is difficult one,
but much good is expected from it. Saw
ing in selling and handling expense and
reduction of loss through waste and i'm
proper business organization will be i'm
portant features of the department S
activity.
Hampered by Lack of Money.
While farm credits will be one of the
ultimate objectives of the new service
the oricials of the department say it will
not be possible to do anything material
in that line just now for lack of money.
There is a commission abroad studying
the problem. Seven members of this
commission were appointed by the Presi-
dent and an appropriation for their ex-
penses was made by Congress. The re-
mainder and the larger number of the
commissioners were appointed by the sew
eral states.
II is expected that the first installment
of this commissions report will be ready
in November. and then this government
will be in a position to take up the work
in line with the best practice prevailing
abroad
Nearly all of the European countries
have extensive rural credit systems SO ar
ranged that their control is KEEP: in the
hands of the communities they serve.
These organizations make loans smaller
than would be considered by a bank and
at reasonable rates of interest
Foster Development.
They have done great DEAL it is
claimed, to foster agricultural develop
ment abroad David Lubin of California.
who was responsible for the founding by
King Humbert of the International In
stitute of Agriculture at Rome. has been
much interested In the formation of this
rural banking system, and took it up at
the meeting of the Southern Commercial
Congress at Louisville last summer. The
congress indorsed 1t and furthered the
appointment of the commission that now