The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-11-18

secure relatively small sums for op-
Grating expenses at low rate, can
can not be denied. The question is
one of ways and means. And Just
what is needed and just what should
be done, no one, so far as l have
been able to discover, is at present
sufficiently informed or wise enough
to assert. For generation econo-
mists have known the facts about
European conditions, but few have in
vestigated the conditions at home.
The Department of Agriculture is now
definitely and rapidly making the
home survey and should in a short
time have information of great value
to the farmer and to the legislature.
FARMER DOES NOT DEMAND
CLASS CREDIT LEGISLATION
One thing is clear, the schemes
that are multiplying which conceive
the farmer to be a mendicant and
subject for unique and special legis-
lation may be at once condemned.
The American farmer does not need
or desire to be classed with those
foreign people who are just emery
tutelage. He asks no opportunity
that is not afforded to every Ameri-
can citizen; he asks for no legisla-
ton which shall give him credit on
easier terms than his brother me-
chanic or his professional friend or
his merchant may secure it. But he
does ask to be assisted in creating
conditions and machinery which shall
enable him On a similar credit fOun-
datlon to secure money at the same
rates as any other class in the COM
munity. This, and this alone, it
seems to me is all that he asks and
is nothing less than he deserves. |
am not impressed whit the wisdom
and the justice of proposals that
would take the money of all the peo-
pie through bonds or other devices
and lend it to the farmers or to any
other class at rate of interest low
er than the economic conditions
would normally require and at rate
of interest lower than that at which
other classes are securing their cap
ltal. This would be special legisla-
ton of a particularly odious type, and
no new excursions in this direction
would be palatable when we are en-
gagged IN the gigantic task of restor-
ing the simple rule of equity:
In the field of marketing, there is
also danger that pressure will be
brought to bear upon us to act every
where before we are prepared to act
lntelligently anywhere. Not that as
sistance cannot be given here and
there and not that the Department is
not furnishing and will not furnish in
formation of great practical value to
individuals and communities. The De-
partment has arranged it's marketing
investigations under five important
subdivisions:
F1rst-Marketing Surveys, methods
and costs, including especially availa-
bic market supplies in given produc-
tlon areas, demand at consuming CEN
tiers, cold and other storages, market
ing systems and prices, and costs of
wholesale and retail distribution of
farm products.
Second-TranSpOrta and Stor-
age problems having in mind the elm
lnatnon of waste and study of prob
lens connected with surplus market
supplies, terminal and transfer facili-
ties, including freight consignment.
car supply, deterioration in transit. ex-
tension of the practice of preceding
of perishable and other special SER
vices.
Third-City marketing and distribu-
ton investigations, involving a study
of the uses and limitations of farmers.
municipal, wholesale and retail mar
ket houses, systems of city distribu-
ton, the promotion of direct dealing
between producers and consumers by
parcel post, express and freight.
Fourth-Study and PRONUNCIATION
OF market grades and standards; con-
sideration of sizes and suitability of
packages and containers, methods of
preparation of perishable products and
the ultimate establishment. so far as
practicable, of official market grades
and standards for the farm products.
FINALLY = Cooperative production
ana marketing investigations. The
Department has done much work in
thlS held through various agencies.
1t has established standard cotton
grades and has practically completed
its standard In corn grades. 1t has
given much attention to the cold
storage problems, to the packing and
handling of perishable fruits. 1t is
convinced, as you are, of the exist
ing chaos and of the consequent
Waste-waste resulting from faults on
the part of the farmer in the grow
ing and handling of his products !;
/ waste resulting from the machinery
of distribution, including physical
equipment and physical handling;
waste resulting from the manipula-
| ton of those middlemen who per-
form no clearful, useful and necces-
sary service, and waste resulting
from ignorance on the part of the con-
sumner and of the producer Of the
character of the product which is
placed on the market. The producer
of any product is entitled to receive
an exact price for the specific pro-
duct which he offers, and the consum-
er is entitled to receive just the
commodity he thinks he is paying
for
A failure in either direction in.
wolves injustice and greatly hampers
1