The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-09-15

Ny dear Mr.. Lever:
IT has given me much satisfaction
to approve today the bill making ap-
propriations for the Department OF
Agriculture for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1917, and for other purposes,
because the bill not only makes very
generous provision for the improve
ment of farm production in the ma
ton and for Investigations and demon
STATIONS in the field of the marketing
Of farm crops and of the organization
of rural life, but also contains three
well conceived measures designed to
improve market practices and the stor-
age and financing of staple crops. AS
the passage Of this bill marks the
practical completion of an important
part of the program for the better
ment of rural life which was mapped
out at the beginning of the administra-
ton, I feel that I cannot let the oc-
casion pass without conveying to you
and your associates in both houses
my appreciation of the service rem
dered to the nation in Strengthening
its great agricultural foundations.
The record, legislative as well as
administrative, is a remarkable one.
It speaks for itself and needs only to
be set forth.
1. Appreciation Of the Importance
of agriculture has been shown through
greatly and intelligently increased ap-
preparations for its support.
2. Particular pains have been taken
to foster production by every promising
means, and careful thought has been
given especially to the matter of in
creasing the meat supply of the nation.
8. Greatly increased provision has
been made, through the enactment OF
the Cooperative Agricultural Exten.
sion Act, for conveying agricultural
information to farmers and for induc-
ing them to apply it. This piece OF
legislation is one of the most signitl-
cant and far reaching measures for
the education of adults ever adopted
by any government. 1t provides for
cooperation between the States and
the Federal Government. This is a
highly important and significant prin-
ciple. When the Act is in full opera
ton there will be expended annually
under it's terms, from Federal and
State sources alone, a total of over So
100000, in the direct education OF the
farmer; and this amount is being and
will be increasingly supplemented by
contributions from local sources. 1t
will permit the placing in each OF the
$3.50 rural counties of the nation two
farm demonstrators and specialists
who will assist the demonstrators in
the more difficult problems confront
ing them.
4. Systematic provision for the first
time has been made for the solution
of problems in that important half OF
agriculture which concerns diStribu-
Mountaineering, rural finance, and
rural organization.
5. Provision was made promptly
for the creation of an Office of Mar.
kets and Rural Organization and the
appropriations for this Office, includ.
ing those for enforcing new laws de-
signed to promote better marketing,
have been increased to $1,2OO,OOO. The
more difficult problems Of marketing
are being Investigated and plans are
in operation for furnishing assistance
to producers of perishables through a
market news service. A similar SER
vice for live stock interests will be
inaugurated during the year.
6. The problems of securing the
uniform grading of staple crops, Of
regulating dealings and traffic in them,
of developing better system of ware
houses, and Of providing more avail
able collateral for farm loans has been
successfully dealt with.
Z. Under the Cotton Futures Act
standards for cotton have been eStab-
lished, the operations of the futures
exchanges have been put under super
vision, and the sale of cotton has been
placed on a firmer basis.
8. The United States Grain Stand
ards Act will secure uniformity in the
grading of grain, enable the farmer
to obtain fairer prices for his product,
and afford him an incentive to raise
better grades of grain.
9. The United States Warehouse
Act will enable the Department Of
| Agriculture to license bonded ware
| houses in the various states. 1t will
| lead to the development of better stor-
age facilities for staple crops and will
make possible the issuance of reliable
warehouse receipts which will be wide
Iy and easily negotiable.
10. OF no less Importance for agri-
culture and for the national develop