Las Vegas optic., 1913-04-26
To INVESTIGATE
AGRICULTURAL
FIELD
AMERICAN COMMISSION SAILS
FOR EUROPE; WILL MAKE
EXHAUSTIVE STUDY.

New YORK. April zs.-When the
steamship Sa10uIa Of the Cunard Hne
sailed from This port today II had On
bozrd about eighty OF the members
OF the American commission On agri-
( cultural cooperation bound for Eu-
rope to make thorough and system
atic study Of the rural credit and
banking systems IN use IN fourteen
( Of the countries Of Europe. Tne CON
Mission has a tOtzl membership Of
one hundred. but some or It's mem
bers. who are United States senators
or representative IN congress. are
Z detained by the sxigeneies Of the ez-
trz session Of congress and VIII not
b able 10 join the other members Of
the commission until after the ad-
50urument Of congress.
Y Practically all the members of the
commission and several prominent
i. s0Fernmsut officials arrived here tuo
days ago and completed their ar
rzugsmeuts for the trip. which vii
0ecupE several months Yesterday
F. they attended . banquet given IN
their honor at which the secretary Of
agriculture and several other promi-
nent government officials were also
present
The plan Of sending a commission
Of Investigation to Europe originated
{ At the meeting Of the southern con-
mereiaI congress which was held IN
+ april Of last year AT Nashville. Tenn
? The plan evolved at that gathering
net with the hearty approval Of the
federal government and Of the govern
meuts Of the states Of the union and
in accordance with it each state ap-
pointed TWO delegates to the commits
sion. whose expenses are to be paid
hy their respective states. President
wilson appointed q commission Of
ssven to represent the federal gov
arnmeng with Senator Duncan q
Fletcher. Of Florida, as chairman; the
commission also includes the dele
gates appointed BY the secretary oi
state to attend the International n
stfruts OF agriculture which vii OpeH
al Rome On May T.
In accordance with the plan eIab
GRATED for the WORK OF me eommIs
sion the scope OF the Investigation
+ provides for an examination Of ta7
2 mathodz eupIoyed b. progressive as
D riculturaI committees IN Europe Il
: production and marketing, and IN tbs
, financing Of both these operations. Il
Z addition 10 that the following specia
e subjects are to Be- Investigated: Tit
& uzrts played respectively. in the pro
L motion Of agriculture b. the govern
meurs and by voluntary organizationi
B. Of the agricultural classes; the apIli
81 cation Of the cooperative sys1an Z
l. agricultural production, distributes
y and finance. the effect Of co-oDeEatiyI
= examinations upon social condition
: in rural communities; the relation 9
. the cost OF living 10 the business O
.-=-sssor nr the food-prOduein
u classes
1t mas long been recognize
re- throuzhout the United states that n
81 farmers Of the country. who numbe
II about 12eeo.oo0 and who annual
"a add S. 400 900 600 to the nations
AZ wealth. are seriously Handicapped b
T. the lack Of a financial credit systei
= adequate to their needs It is EST
,zl mated that the farmers Of The Uni
- 81 states are employing about =
IL OgO.00O.o0 Of borrowed eapsts
which they annually have TO %
-l s5fG 900 .00a interest. Counting cor
missions and renewal charges, n
- rate averages 81 per cent, while Il
farmers in Germany and other Bur
n paan countries can obtain al the ca
ftal required BY them at a rate Of
4. tarsst Of from 81 to 4ls Per cent
Germany as wen as in other Eur
rean countries the rural credit 3
TEN has been developed with exc
lent results and to great benefit
the agricultural classes and It i .
Iisyed hy the promoters Of the eoi
mission mat similarly beneficial
= suits may be obtained by the inaas
e. ration Of an adequate agrieul5sii
credit systsm in the United stat
Canz5a also is greatly interested
The szbsect and every one of tae {
madam provinces is represented
.o- me eonmIsion b deleszEes-
- 49, ~-o~-rrv Voue fae egzaE