The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-01-15
illustrating the character OF unneces-
sary expenses to which we refer
Union Opposes "Fuii Crew. Bill


sary expenses to which we refer
Union Opposes "Fuii Crew" Bill
The Texas Farmers Union regis
tered its opposition to this character
of legislation at the last annual meet
ing held in Fort Worth, Tex, August
4. 1914, by resolution, which we quote,
as follows:
THE matter of prime Importance
to the farmers of this state Is an ade-
quate and efficient marketing system;
and we recognize that such a system
is impossible without adequate rail-
road facilities, embracing the greatest
amount of service at the least pos
sible cost. We further recognize that
the farmers and producers in the end
pay approximately So per cent OF the
expenses of operating the railroads.
and it is therefore to the interest OF
the producers that the expenses OF
the common carriers be as small as
is possible, consistent with good SER
vice and safety. We, therefore, call
upon our law makers, courts and
juries to bear the foregoing facts in
mind when dealing with the common
carriers of this state, and we do espe-
cially relffirm the declarations Of
the last annual convention Of our
State Union, opposing the passage OF
the so-called full-crew' bill before
the thirty-third legislature of Texas. "
The farmers of Missouri in the last
election, by an overwhelming ma
jority, swept this law off the statute
book of that state, and it should
come off of all statute books where
it appears and no legislature of this
nation should pass such a law or
similar legislation which requires un-
necessary expenditures.
The same rule applies to all regu-
latory measures which increase the
expenses of industry without giving
corresponding benefits to the public.
sembled at legislatures-and they
have right to be there-who, In
their zeal for rendering their fellow
associates service, sometimes favor
an increase in the expenses of in
dustry without due regard for the men
who bow their backs to the summers
sun to meet the payroll, but these
committees, while making a record
for themselves. rub the skin OF the
shoulders OF the farmer by urging the
legislature to lay another burden
upon his heavy load and under the
lash of "be 1t enacted" goad him on
to pull and surge at the traces OF civil
ization, no matter how he may sweat,
foam and gall at the task. When
legislatures "cut melon for labor
they hand the farmer a lemon.
The farmers OF the United States
are not financially able to carry dead
! heads" on their payrolls. Our own
hired hands are not paid unless we
have something for them to do and
we are not willing to carry the hired
help of dependent industries unless
there is work for them. We must
| therefore insist upon the most rigid
economy.
Legislative House Cleaning Needed.
While the war is on and there is a
| lull in business, we want all legisla-
| tive bodies to take an inventory Of
| the statute books and wipe of all
extravagant and useless laws. A good
housekeeping Is needed and econo-
! mics can be instituted here and there
| that will patch the clothes Of INDECENT
I, children, rest tired mothers and lift
| mortgages from Respondent homes
! Unnecessary workmen taken off and
| useless expenses chopped down all
| along the line will add to the pros
perity of the farmer and encourage
him in his mighty effort to feed and
clothe the world.
II any of these industries have sur
| plus employees we can use them on
the farm. We have no regular
farm hands on an average of $1.50
per day of thirteen hours when they
board themselves; work usually runs
about nine months of the year and the
three months dead time, they can dc
the chores for their board. II they
1
there are more than $4,000. 1000, 00(
acres Of idle land on the earth's sur
face awaiting the magic touch of tbs
plow The compensation is easily OBJ
tainable from Federal Agriculture
Department statistics. The tota
average annual sales of farm II
the continental United States amounts
to $4,000; the cost of operation II
$4,000: leaving the farmer SITS PEI
annum to live on and educate hi
family.
There is no occasion for the legis
latures making position for surplus
employees OF industry. Let them COM
back to the soil' and share with u
the prosperity of the farm.
When honesty is merely goo
policy 1t is a poor virtue.