The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1916-09-22

Il
No administration has ever done so
much to advance the agriculture In
terests of the United States as that Of
President Wilson. The record is set
forth chiefly and effectively in a let
ter written by the President to Con
gresham A. f. Lever, Chairman OF
the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives, as follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Washington.
August II, 1916.
My dear Mr.. Lever:
It has given me much satisfaction
to approve today the bill making APP
propriatons 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
tion 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. T. feel that l cannot let the oc-
casion pas without conveying to you
and your associates in both houses
nv 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.
I. 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
creasiDg 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 1t. This piece OF
legislation is one Of the most signin-
cant and far reaching measures for
the education Of adults ever adopted
by any government. II provides for
cooperation between the States and
the Federal Government. This Is q
highly important and significant prin'
ciple. When the Act is in full opera
ton there will be expended annually
under its terms, from Federal and
State sources alone, a total OF over w.
100000, in the direct education Of thu
farmer; and this amount is being and
will be increasingly supplemented b.
contributions from local sources. ]
will permit the placing in each OF tn
$3.50 rural counties Of the nation tw'
farm demonstrators and specialist
who will assist the demonstrators I
the more difficult problems confront
ing them.
j 4. Systematic provision for the hrs
u. time has been made for the soluho
of problems in that important half
agriculture which concerns distrib'
Communicating, rural finance, ar
rural organization.
8. Provision was made prompt
for the creation Of an ONCE Of Ma
kets and Rural Organization and Il
appropriations for this ONCE, inclu
ing those for enforcing new laws d
signed to promote better marketin
have been increased to $1,2OO,OOO. II
more difficult problems Of marketl
are being investigated and plans q
in operation for furnishing assistan
to producers Of %perishables through
market news service. A similar 81
vice for live stock interests will
i~naugurated during the year.
6. The problems Of securing I
uniform grading Of staple crops,
regulating dealings and traffic in the
of developing a better system Of wa
houses, and Of providing more avI
able collateral for farm loans las be
successfully dealt with.
& 7. Under the Cotton Futures
u standards for cotton have been est
4 lished, the operations Of the futu
exchanges have been put under sur
vision, and the sale Of cotton has b,
placed on a hrmer basis.
W 8. The United States Grain Sta
ards Act will secure uniformity in
grading Of grain, enable the farI
to obtain fairer prices for his prod
and afford him an incentive to II
-. better grades Of grain.
WV 0. The United States Wareho
Act will enable the Department
of Agriculture to license bonded vi
o,r- houses in the various states. It
lead to the development Of better 8
j. age facilities for staple crops and
49, make possible the Issuance Of relii
""P warehouse receipts which will be W