The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-05-20
BETTER METHODS OF MARKET
ING TO BE TAUGHT BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
NEW BUREAU is PROPOSED
Cooperative Selling by Farmers VIII
Result in Great Benefits Not Only
to the Producer but to the Con-
sumner as Well.
ey eEoReE cLINToN.

q 1 d
sion known as the rural organization
service" Its chief, T. N. Carver, VIII,
has just been appointed, was until re
Gently a professor at Harvard univer
sity. If Secretary of Agricultur,
Houston has his way, Professor Car
yer probably will be made the chic
OF another new bureau to be known a:
the bureau of markets" There Is al
ready bureau of markets organiza
ton, but it is unofficial, and Mr. Hous
ton will ask congress to give definite
approval with a definite appropriation
for bureau of this kind.
Just what the new service will do in
detail has not yet been determined
but 1t is well known that primary
duty will be to study the economics
OF the marketing OF products 1t is
known that Secretary of Agriculture
Houston, with the complete sympathy
OF President Wilson, will interest him.
self particularly in an attempt to cut
down the cost of living by cutting out
inefficient and unbusinesslike methods
In marketing the products of the farm
DR.. George K. Holmes, who is the
statlstician Of the division of produc-
ton and distribution, has found out
that the consumer pays for his vege-
tables, fruit, poultry and dairy prod
ucts about twice as much as the farm
er receives for them
What Farmer Should Do.
Dr. Holmes has said on this matter:
A survey of the systems of market
Ing farm products clearly discovers
what the farmers can best do to their
advantage. They must associate them
selves together for the purpose Of as
sembling their individual contributions
or products, to consider means of
shipping in carload lots, of obtaining
market news at places to which it is
practicable to send their products, to
sell in a considerable number of mar
kets If not in many markets, and to
secure the various other economic
gains of associative selling. But
farmers need some help in establish
Ing associations. They always need a
leader for such purposes, and there
may be no leader.
. ~ uAFAo1Ou Va mdFhSlS COulQ per-
form excellent service in helping farm
ers to help themselves to organize
marketing associations. These asso-
Citations could either handle their
products until sold in various markets |
or could ship their products to a non
cooperative marketing agency, which |
would take charge of the entire bust
ness ihI1fi
ceiving point
1t seems not always feasible to
market products comparatively. or. at
any rate, the producers are not always
disposed to do so. However, that may
De. there are many non-co-operative
marketing agencies in this country
hat are performing excellent service
or farmers, and some of them are do
ng business Of immense proportions.
division of markets, equipped with
|. corps of competent field agents,
ould get into touch with farmers for
ne purpose of promoting the organi-
alton of marketing associations
7hereyer the farmers request assist
nee or information; the agent could
leet the assembled farmers and prac-
lcaliy organize them If they desired. |
can hardly be doubted that this
erVice can be successfully performed
nd, eventually, with results greatly :
to farmers. The travelling :
eld agents also could perform good ;
erv1ce in examining into the affairs !.
weak and unsuccessful marketing :
'sociations and advise changes for
lelr improvement"
To Probe Civil Service. !
1t is virtually settled that there :
TO be sweeping investiga- =
ON OF the civil service law under :
hich thousands upon thousands of :
mericans hold their places. OF .
'urse there will be feeling that :,
e investigation is prompted by the :,
'slre OF the dominant party to create :,
for party workers, but it .
ems likely that any such investiga- =
IN would affect comparatively few of :.
e holders of minor positions under -
civil service, and would strike only :,
rev or the heads, and it would =,
IKE nobody if an inquiry should ~
vulge that there is nothing wrong
Tn the system as it stands. =.
AS matters are it seems that nearly =.
erybody In congress, irrespective of -
rty. wants to see the civil service -
revised This is plain because h.
cry once in a while criticism Is -
ara OF the civil service system from ~
mouths of Democrats, Republicans -
-Progressives, while debates are ~
In either house. The civil service O.
nm1ssion always has insisted that
n-partisanship methods have been n
nered to absolutely in the giving of a.
to men who apply under ia
civil service law, and the prob w
nty is, everybody says, that an GO
estigation will show this to be the -,
I. The trouble. members say. with in,
civil service system is not 90 on
en- that incompetent men get into &c
ce, or that favoritism Is shown in m
rking examinations. as that MANY oh
pioyes take advantage Of the fact ev
they are under civil service and Ma
TX they are there for life, to loaf ma
= - T.