Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-01-05
GROWTH OF FEDERAL
HELP FOR FARMERS
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DO.
ING TO HELP THE PEOPLE
FINANCE THEIR FARMS.

may be called the business side of his
life are emphasized in the report of
the secretary of agriculture. On this
subject the secretary says, in part:
The half of agriculture embracing
the marketing of farm products, rural
finance, and rural organization has
strikingly occupied attention during
the last three and one-half years. Be-
fore 1913 little systematic thought
had been devoted to it, and there did
not exist, either in the states or in
the nation, effective instrumentalities
to furnish assistance and guidance to
farmers in this field, nor had the laws
necessary to remedy abuses and con-
troll unfavorable conditions been
formulated or enacted. In view of
the completely and novelty of the
problems, the accomplishments
1slative and administrative-have
been notable and significant. This
seems an opportune time to summa-
rize them.
Early in 1913 a program for the
ensuing four years was developed.
This program in large measure has
been executed. In the first place pro-
vision was made promptly for the Gre
alton of the Office of markets and ru-
raj organization. Beginning with a
modest sum, the appropriations for
this office, including those for enforc-
ing new laws to promote better mar
keting, have increased to $1,242,000.
Best Experts in World.
Quickly an effective organization
was developed. and today the nation
possesses in this department the
largest and best trained and support
ed staff of experts dealing with the
distribution of agricultural commodi-
ties and rural organization to be
found anywhere in the world. 1t is
engaged in investigating all the
larger and more difficult problems
confronting farmers in this new
field
The matter of establishing stand
ards for staple agricultural products,
of supervising the inspection of
grains shipped in interstate and for
eign commerce and the operations
Of cotton futures exchanges, Of de-
vising financial machinery suited to
the needs of the rural population, Of
developing better system of ware
houses for agricultural products, and
of federal aid in highway construc-
ton received careful attention. The
result was the enactment Of num-
Der of highly important laws-the
cotton-futures act. the United
States grain-standards act, the Unit
ed States warehouse act, the federal
farm loan act, and the federal-aid
road act.
The United States grain-standards
act will bring about uniformity in
grading, enable the farmer to obtain
a fairer price for his product and to
improve it's quality. and prevent or
diminish materially the shipment OF
adulterated grain. Plans for its en-
forcement have been developed as
rapidly as possible. Oficial stand
ards for shelled corn have been pro-
muigated.
In order that the work of licensed
inspectors may be supervised prop
erly, and appeals and disputes under
the act dealt with promptly, 1t has
seemed advisable for the present
to divide the country into 80 dis
tricts. This number may be in
creased when standards for, other
grains have been established. The
districting has been made with
view to place all sections of the
country in convenient reach Of
grain supervisor.
Warehouse Act.
The United States warehouse act
authorizes the Department Of Agri-
culture to license bonded warehouses
which handle certain agricultural
products. 1t Will make possible the
issuance of reliable and easily nego-
table warehouse receipts, promote
the better storing of farm products.
and encourage the standardizing Of
storages and of marketing processes.
The rules and regulations for its en-
forcement are in course Of prepare
ton. and interested parties will be
given opportunity to submit sugges-
lions.
The federal farm-loan act creates
a banking system which will reach
intimately into the rural districts,
operate on terms suited to the farm
er's needs under sympathetic man.
agement, introduce business methods
into farm finance. bring order out
q