The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-06-04

In these days when safety devices
are everywhere being applied as pro-
lection to life and limb; when the
family and the investor are protected
by an insurance policy (Which, like
the suggestion about to be made. was
once an innovation), against loss by
death or fire, why should we neglect
the application of safety device that
would shield the white-haired mort
gagor and his white-haired wife, or
the younger family who has has stalk
ed their small savings and years of
their lives $50 essential in carving
out successful career) in building up
home in the arid west?
The term business is business"
does not Justify us in unnecessarily
blasting human life. The fact that
running through our natures are hu-
man wants the satisfaction or denial
of which will make or unmake the
man; that we are endowed with pa
triotism, with sympathy, and other
social instincts, give rise to a divine
right and create a duty to demand
that business keep her doors open to
that progress that makes for the we'll
being. and security of the individual
and the nation.
If, all goes we'll, Farmer "a" can
increase his efficiency and his in
come by securing a loan. But he must
meet annual installments on water
right. He is surrounded with vast
reaches of sparsely settled country.
with markets yet to create. He must
pay railroad rates which are a reflec-
ton on the independent manhood OF
those who tamely submit to them. Ac-
cessible markets are often glutted
with the products he has to sell. He
will probably be successful in his
stock ventures. but on account of un-
fortunate purchases, disease, or other
misfortunes, he may face reverses. He
knows that failure to pay a single in.
Stallment on the loan when due means
ruin. If Farmer A is successful with
the money secured from the loan, he
and the state both benefit. Is il not
therefore the duty of the state (if il
can be done without sacri6ce) to make
him reasonably secure?
The following contract could be
made between the government and
the farmer: The loan could be is
sued in installments, the first being
say eighty-six per cent of the loan
value. Should Farmer "a" be unable
to meet one or two annual payments
payment could be made for him by
the remaining installments of the loan
In order that this safety margin
may be kept open as nearly as pos
slble, installments and 3 should be
allowed to be repaid at any time, and
a rapidly increasing rate OF interest
charged on them each year. Thus an
elastic feature would be introduced
that would allow the financial pres.
sure resulting from two unsuccessful
years to adjust itself without break
and would in most instances tide the
borrower over a critical period. Fore.
closures would be rare. and insurance
charges brought to a minimum.
The above proposition is made for
the settler in arid regions, but it would
apply equally to the farmers in ali
parts of the country. 1t removes the
only valid objection to direct action
on the part of the government in max.
ing rural loans. The Insurance charge
could be graded according to the
conditions in each section of the
| country. the charge necessary to Sc
cure the government against loss in
the humid regions being insignificant
and there would be an independent
insurance fund for each of the two or
more sections involved.
H. G. TYSON, Jr.