The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-12-13
FOR RURAL CREDIT
SECRETARY DANIELS PREDICTS
SUCH LEGISLATION WILL BE
PASSED SOON.
STUDIED BY A COMMISSION
Representative Bathrick Thinks His
Plan OF Government Aid to Guar
sntee System 10 Better and Safer
Than Competitive Method.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
ALPHABETICALLY Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels spoke at several
large cities in the west on the pros
pect of better times for the farmers
of the country, incidentally as the re
suit OF tariff and currency legislation
but specifically perhaps as the result
of Legislation establishing rura
credit system. The hopes which Mr.
Daniels held out OF beneficent accom-
pishment were high and the Demo
Gratis hope OF course that his prophe
cies will be justified by the facts OF
the future. In one Of his speeches IN
the west the secretary Of the sailors
said:
The new tariff will remove from
the farmer the excessive charges for
every article needed in cultivation
and in the home, and will cheaper
the living of the farmer. The new
currency bill that will soon be a law
VIII be followed by wise legislation
providing for rural credits and for ef-
fective laws which will be put into ex-
'ecution against all forms of monop-
oily. These blessings are almost In
sight and their gradual unfolding Will
mean a new and a better day for the
.dwellers on the farms"
Senator Fletcher of Florida Is at
work on rural credits legislation
which will be q part of the admins
uation program for the winter SEES
sion of congress- A commission has
been studying rural credits and will
submit findings which will be put into
DILL form and 1t is probable that II
the president gives his sanction the
Opinions of the commission put into
Legislative form eventually will be-
come the law of the land.
To Consult MeAdoo and Houston.
This matter of rural credits ia large
ny treasury. matter. and 1t is expect
I'd that Secretaries McAdoo and Hous-
ton must be reckoned with before the
Legislation is accomplished, Just as
one Of them had to be reckoned with
prior to the final framing of the
Glass currency bill. Just how much
Mr.. McAdoo has had to do with the
suggestions already put forth in con-
Igress for a proper form for rural cred
pts legislation does not appear. 1t
seems likely. however, that the presi-
dent will insist that Mr.. McAdoo and
Mr.. Houston agree before anything
definite is done.
I Representative z. r. Bathrick of
Ohio has prepared a rural credit
measure In which 1t Is said that the
banners Of the country show deep in
terest. Mr.. Bathrick says. perhaps
saperfiuously, that the heart of the
fArm credit matter is lending money
ut a lower cost and on better terms
than at present. Mr.. Bathrick has
been going from one farmers con-
vention to another explaining the
terms OF the bill.
II seems to be the Ohioan's idea,
and It possibly may be the one
khat will take with the house OF rep
yesentatives, that government aid is
the surest way OF guaranteeing q
farm credit system for this country.
u is said that there are two gen.
Asal systems for giving cheap money
TO farmers. one the Bathrick plan and
the other that looking to the formar
kiou OF farmers cooperative societies
Through which they can borrow
money for themselves Both these
systems were studied by the Ameri-
can congressional commission which
spent some time In Europe digging
into the subject.
Danger In Cooperative PIanf
Tho cooperative plan has its ad-
Aerents and they are forceful in pre-
senting their views of the question.
The Ohio representative seems to
think. however. that such a system
would Vun the danger of falling into
the hands of the wall Street finan-
lciers." He thinks the government It.
self should accept the mortgages,
and on this security issue bonds, the
proceeds from the sale on which could
be furnished to the mortgage givers
1t q maximum interest rate of four
and . half per cent. Mr.. Bathrick
seemingly has Ideas that some people
would call merely progressive and
others would call radical He says
thst the government would derive
profits from the transactions de-
scribed and that II he can get his
ideas into legislative form these pro-
fts viii be applied to the building Of
country roads.
Lei the government be the lender
on the farm mortgage" urges Mr..
Bathrick. That is the only sure way
to lower the interest rate. Not a cent
OF the taxpayers money need be used.
The government can borrow and lend.
II can be the trustee for the lender
and borrower. take no risk. and make
profit for the whole people.
BEFORE DAY OF SUEZ CANAL