The Washington times., 1915-03-21
{NT|MtNT GROWING
FOR RURAL CREDITS
Senator Fletcher Tells Of Work
Being Done by the Joint
Committee.

One OF the most important subjects to
be taken up in the next Congress will
be rural credits.
Tho pioneer in this movement is the
Southern Commercial Congress, of which
Senator Duncan l.. Fletcher is prcsi-
dent.
In reply to an inquiry regarding the
work being done, and the effect of the
constitution OF a joint committee Of
the Senate and House by the bill maxi
Ing appropriations for the Department
or Agriculture. Senator Fletcher said:
The joint committee, composed OF
members of the two committees on ag
riculture and banking and currency of
the two houses, was created to prepare,
after such investigations as may be
deemed necessary, and report to the
Congress on or before January, !, 1916, a
bill or bills providing for the establish
ment OF q system or rural credits adapt
ed to American needs and conditions.
The same act continued in full force
and authority the United States Com
mission composed OF seven. appointed
by, the President, under the act of
March A.. 1913. until the close Of the
fiscal year, 1916.
To Send Out Literature.
'The joint committee does not take
sion. but its work will be supplementary
to the latter. 1t will be remembered
that the United States Commission was
created to cooperate with the Ameri-
can Commission in the investigation and
study of the various systems in opera
tion in European countries, as well as
Conditions in this country, and made
its report to Congress.
1.-THE American Commission, which
was assembled by the Southern Com
mercial Congress, In pursuance OF reso-
lutions adopted at its Nashville conven-
tion in 1917. is still in existence, and its
affairs are being conducted by an
executive committee
Senator Fletcher is chairman of the
American commission and also of the
United States commission, nd said the
United States commission would send
out very shortly to every member OF
Congress and to the governor of each
State, Senate document PA and Senate
document $50, and the hearings before
the joint committee on Rural Credits.
OF which Senator Hollis was chairman
on the part of the Senate and Congress
man Bulkley on the part OF the House.
and also the commission bill. known as
the Moss bill in the House and the
Fletcher bill in the Senate, and other
literature on the subject
To Further State Legislation.
The effort will be to have the subject
thoroughly considered by the time Con-
gress meets and also to further State
legislation wherever needed and consid-
cred desirable. The United States com
mission reported it's bill on long-term
land mortgage credit and may have q
further report to make on the subject
Of personal credit. although that has
beer. regarded as a matter which per-
haps the States would more appropri-
stely take care Of. Senator Fletcher
stated, that his correspondence was very
Noluminous. showing Widespread inter
est both from the State aud national
standpoint. Members of the Legisla,
lures in various States have shown &C.
tive. concern and desire documents anC
speeches from the commission ant
their recommenda tions s@sarding STATE
legislation.
Whatever bill is reported by the join
committee and passed by Congress will
undoubtedly be based on the work o
the United States commission and EN-
brace the essential features OF tn,
Fletcher-Msss bill, in Senator Fletcher
opinion,