The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-12-25
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE

I That there is no emergency which
justifies government cash or credit
was the position taken by Secretary
Houston of the department of agri
culture, in discussing rural credits il
his annual report just submitaed tt
President Wilson. Secretary Hous
toms statement was regarded as in
dicating the policy of the administers
/ ton. edI bagg
Secretary Houston pointed out that
/ the new bank law takes just and
| particular knowledge of the farmers
requirements" He suggested that
any credits needs of the agricultural
community beyond those cared for
under the federal reserve law, should
be cared for by system of cooper
alive credit associations, financed
with private funds, by means of which
the combined credit Of farming COM
munities could be utilized, and by a
system of land mortgage banks, like
wise, privately capitalized.
There seems to be no emergency
which requires or justifies govern
ment assistance to the farmers direct
ly through government assistance to
the farmers directly through the use
of the governments cash or the
governments credit" says the re-
port. THE American farmer is
sturdy, self-reliant and Independent.
He is not in the condition of serfdom
or semi-serfdom in which were the
European peoples for whom govern
ment aid was extended in some form
or other during the last century"
In advocating a land mortgage
banking system and system of CO.
operative credits associations the re-
port asserts that the use of the funds
loaned for productive purposes on the
farms covered by the mortgages
should be insisted upon.
Mr.. Houston's report reviews the
investigation of the marketing and
distribution system and while the
study is not yet sufficiently finished
to admit of final conclusions the
work thus far shows the need of a
reorganization of the distribution
process On this point the secretary
says:
During the present grass season,
for example, Chicago has received
Mexican, Canadian and Florida cat.
tie at about the same time. Steers
raised in California by an Oregon
operator have been shipped through
Denver to Omaha and their beef
sent to points on the Atlantic coast
Hogs raised in Illinois and sold al
indianapolis have. been slaughtered al
Boston and a part of their cured
bacon shipped to Los Angles. Michi
gan dressed veal calves expressed to
South Water street commission
houses at Chicago have been returned
to the identical shipping points from
which they came to fill orders from
local retail markets"
Secretary Houston asks congress
for an additional emergency approp
lriation of several million dollars or
account of the recent outbreak of the
foot and mouth disease among cattle
He says that if the interval between
the last and the present session o.
congress had been longer the depart
ment would have been without suffi
Icient funds to meet the situation.
"The department" he says, "ha:
lpursued its former policy of purchas
ling diseased and exposed cattle at ar
appraised value and of slaughterins
them and burying them. 1t has es
tablished very strict quarantine
/ The expense of this task will be yer.
'tgreat and it will be necessary to asl
congress for an emergency appropria
Ition of several millions of dollars
The interests at stake are vast ant
justify any reasonable expenditure.
| The report sets forth the activities
of the department in establishing
standard grain grades, and in the in
Iitial administration Of the new cottol
futures law which the secretary call
1.-THE "first definite, systematic, lega
approach to the solution of Difficult
Iproblems in this field of distribution.
THE secretary recommends considers