The Washington times., 1915-05-27
IMMIGRANT FARMS
OSOLVE PROBLEM
Proposal Made to Prevent Con-
gestion Of Aliens In Big Cities
of United States.

Farm and garden training stations to
be established under Government con-
troll near the chief ports of this country
for the benefit Of immigrants has been
proposed to the Departments of Labor
and Agriculture by the New York con-
gestion committee.
The secretary Of the committee. Ben
jamin c. Marsh, was In Washington
recently to obtain advice. information.
and cooperation from Government CT
ficials. Secretary Of Labor Wilson IA
vors the plan and Assistant Secretary
Vrooman, of the Department Of Agri-
culture, does also.
Mr.. Vrooman holds IT would be an
extremely practical step for the benefit
of the immigrants and also for the
farmers. Indications are 1t will be
taken up in at the next session of Con-
gress. The committee includes a num-
Der Of prominent experts on social
questions, its chairman being Allan
Dawson. formerly Of Iowa. now of New
York. Mrs Florence Kelley Is one Of
tho members.
The big problem In connection with
immigration Is how to prevent the i'm
migrants from congesting in the big
cities and how to get them to the land.
lem.
raves way 10 Lana.
Secretary Wilson. in this connection.
points out that the Department Of
Labor for some time has considered
the necessity of helping immigrant peas
ants to find their way to the land. He
says there is now a surplusc Of SIC, ,OO0, go
from the head tax imposed on the immi-
grants. and that 1t was originally in
tended to use this money to ASST the
settlement of the immigrants. To use
1t for the farm and garden training sta
tions would require action by Congress.
MIR. Marsh. while here. enumerated
various strong reasons for such training
stations as the New York committee
proposes. One Of the foremost is the
ignorance of American farm and gar
, den methods on the part Of the jmmi-
grant. Often the immigrant does not
know the language. and the farmer
feels he cannot afford to teach him both
! the language and how to work on the
farm. while at the same time paying
him wages.
Other reasons relate to the high and
! incre Ing price of land and the need Ia
encourage the small farmer and immi-
grant with small means to get piece OF
ground of his own: and also to the need
for greater agricultural production. The
| problem of unemployment is growing
worce. and can be solved only by pre-.
! venting greater congestion In the cities
| The growth Of tenant farming is an
evil. too, that needs to be remedied
! and Mr. Marsh thinks II may be reached
| this way.
That a bill for the establishment OF
| training stations of the sort proposed
will be requested and pushed next ses
sion of Congress is expected judging
| by the announcement given him here
Mr.. Harsh feels there is hope for ac-
! ton.
| A nmber Of department officials who
| Mr.. Marsh save while here expressed
, the belief that probably the most effec
| tive way to enable immigrants of the
| European peasant type to own theiI
| own lands wa st tax the speculative
value out Of lands. This Is in line with
| the recommendations of the English
parliamentary land inquiry committee
! which urged heavier taxationi of land
value to encourage agriculture, ar idea
In acord with the thought of Henry
| George"