The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-08-23
The White House,


The White House.
Washington. August IL, 1915.
My Dear Mr.. Lever:
1t 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 pur-
poses. because the bill not only makes
very generous provision for the I'm.
provement of farm production In the
nation and for Investigations and
demonstrations In the field o. the
marketing Of farm crops and of the
organization Of rural life. but also
contains three we'll conceived meas
urcs designed to improve marke.
practices and the storage and financ-
Ing OF staple crops. As the passage
Of this bill marks the practical COM
plstion Of an important part of the
progress for the betterment of rural
life which was mapped out at the be-
ginning Of the administration. feel
that cannot lot the occasion pass
without conveying to you and to your
associates In both houses my appre-
citation Of thu service rendered to the
nation in strengthening It's great ayfi-
cultural foundations. g.
The record. legislative as we'll as
administrative, IL q remarkable one.
It speaks for itself and needs only to
be set forth.
!. Appreciation Of the Importance
Of agriculture has been shown
through greatly and intelligently in
creased appropriations for Its support.
Q. Particular pains have been TAX
en- to foster production by every prom
ising means. and careful thought has
been given especially to the matter of
increasing the meat supply of the ma
tion.
3. Greatly increased provision has
been made. through the enactment of
the Cooperative Agricultural E;xten-
sion Act. Cor conveying agricultural
Information to farmers and for in
ducing them to apply It. This piece
Of legislation is one Of the most sig-
nihcaDt and far reaching measures for
the education Of adults ever adopted
% any government. It provides for
desperation between the States and
the Federal Government. This is q
highly important ana significant prin-
ciple. When the act Is in full opera.
tion there will be expended annually
under its terms. from Federal and
State sources alone. a total of over
$S.600.000 In the direct education OF
the farmer; and this amount is being
and will DO increasingly supplemented
by contributions from local sources.
It will permit the placing in each of
the 1850 rural counties of the nation
two farm demonstrators and special
lists who will assist the demonstra
tors In the more difficult problems
confronting them.
4. Systematic provision for the
first time has been made for the so.
luton OF problems In that important
half Of agriculture which concerns
distribution. marketing. rural finance,
and rural organisation.
s. Provision was made promptly
for the creation Of an ONCE of mar
kets and rural organisation and the
appropriations for this ONCE. includ-
Ing those for enforcing new laws de-
signed to promote better marketing,
have been increased to $1,000, 600.
The more dificult problems Of mar
keting are being investigated and
plans are In operation for furnishing
assistance to producers of perisha bles
through q market news service. A
similar service for live stock inter-
ests will he inaugurated during the
year.
~AsS RAVDASuA VI SECURING the
uniform grading Of staple crops, of
regulating dealings and traffic in them
OF developing a better system of
warehouses. and Of providing moro
available collateral for farm loans has
been successfully dealt with.
u Under the cotton futures act
standards for cotton have been estab.
iished. the operations of the futures
exchanges have been put under su-
pervision. and the sale Of cotton has
been placed on a firmer basis.
.. The United States Grain Stand.
ards Act will secure uniformity in the
grading OF grain. enable the farmer
to obtain fairer prices for his pro-
duct. and afford him an incentive to
raise better grades Of grain.
y. The United States warehousa