Middletown transcript., 1916-10-28
RURAL CREDITS ACT
Hearing Held In Baltimore Post
office Before Federal
Farm Board.
Business Men Attsnd-ousstIOns Are
Answered BY George w. Norris,
Who Says Tenant Plan 10
Undesirable.

with the advantages and possible
shortcomings of the recently enacted
Rural Credits act at hearing held be-
fore the Federal Farm Loan Board in
the Postoflce Building, Baltimore.
Four members of the board-G George
W. Norris. Herbert Quick, Capt. w. 8.
A. Smith and Charles e. Lobdell-
came to Baltimore for the hearing,
Secretary Of the Treasury William @.
McAdoO being the only member
absent.
Mr.. Norris, who presided, outlined in
detail the principles Of the act. His
explanation Of it was supplemented by
answers to questions propounded by
his auditors. About 100 farmers and
many business men in the city, anxious
to become acquainted with the act and
its operation, attended the hearing.
The benefit to be derived from the
act by Maryland tenant farmers
those who only farm the land without
having an interest in the land Itself
was a point made by one Of the inter
rogators which is important Direct
ly, Mr.. Norris pointed out, the tenant
farmer can profit little by the act, mas.
much as he has NO tangible security to
offer for loan.
Tenant Farming Undesirable.
"The question is important" he
said. "The proportion of tenant farm
ers in some of the Western States is
as high as 40 per cent. One West
erner said the tenant farmer was In
effect miner, interested only in get
ting out of the land what he could
and not concerned with the develop
ment Of the land itself or the enrich
ing Of the community, which are
among the underlying theories of the
Rural Credits act.
Tenant farming is undesirable, and
the tenant farmer should be made an
owner. Without capital equivalent to
approximately one-fourth of the value
Of the land he desires, however, this
is difficult. The act helps the man
who has some basis of credit. The
farmer can borrow only so per cent. Of
the value Of the land. AS an example,
take a $4,000 farm. With $1,000 capi-
tai he can borrow $4,000 under the act
and, we have found, will be able to
get a man who will take a second
mortgage for the remaining $1,000.
The precautions thrown about the
loan by the act make a second mort
gage on the first mortgage taken by
the Farm Loan Bank infinitely more
desirable than the ordinary second
mortgage"
The amortization plan applied
against loans increases the value Of
the second mortgage, he pointed out.
A Missouri expert, he added, asserted
that the act would bring a notable de-
crease in the number Of tenant
farmers.
Parrish Gets Place.
Governor Harrington announced the
appointment of Edward M. Parrish, of
Baltimore, as a member of the Ad-
visory Board Of Parole, to succeed DR..
J. Hubert Wade, recently commits
stoned a member Of the Board Of
Prison Control.
Mr.. Parrish, who has been the one
active candidate for the place to
which he has been appointed, was for
a number Of years a member Of the
city Fire Board. Last fall he took an
active part in the primary as an advo-
cate Of the nomination Of Mr. Har. |
rinptOn for COvArnor
The latter sought to reward him by |
making him State Fire Marshal.
Later, however, the Office was abolish.
ed and the duties imposed upon a
deputy to be under the State Insur-
ance Commissioner. Because Of busi-
ness reasons, Mr.. Parrish declined to |
accept this deputyship.
To Protect Oysters.
The Conservation Commission Of |
Maryland and the Virginia Commits
sion Of Fisheries will hold another
joint meeting in the Potomac river
this week. They met in the same |
body of water last summer and at
that time mapped out plans for the
Of the legislation enacted
by the two States for the preservation
Of the fsh and shellhsh in the waters
forming the dividing line between the
two States.
At the meeting this week all Of the
oyster inspectors and deputy com.
manders Of the two States will be
before the two commits
siOns and given complete instructions
relative to the enforcement Of the
laws applicable to Potomac river oys-
ters which have been passed by Viz.
ginia and Maryland.
Anne Arundel Holds Fair.
The West River Fair, the first Of
is kind in Anne Arundel county.
,losed Saturday. Besides exhibits of
'arm products and live stock, which
we're judged by Professors Ruffner
and Taliaferro, Of State College, there
we're exhibits of poultry, judged by
Mss Remsen; preserves, jellies and
canned fruits, judged by Professor
Shaw, of the college, and flower
how. Racing was limited to Anne
Arundel county horses. Games for
children of all ages with substantial
,rizes were attractions.
D