American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-02-08
VOLUME xVn.
IDAHO FARMERS IN CONVENTION.
Discuss Legislative Needs, Especially
As TO Land Loans and Titles.

numbers Wednesday, for the second
annual convention of the State FEEDER
alton of Agriculture. They were deep
in discussion of the farmers legisla-
tive needs before the first days session
was over. Further consideration of
legislative needs will occupy much of
the attention of the convention today,
the only set numbers on the program
being talks by Ray McCaig. secretary
and campaign manager of the Farm
ers' Non-partisan league of North
Dakota, and an entertainment by the
Commercial club at the Commercial
club rooms in the evening
The sessions of the convention are
being held in the old Eilers building
on Idaho street.
Discussion of legislation was pre-
eipitated by paper by John W. Ea-
gleson, state treasurer, on bill which
he proposes for the lending of state
loans to be based on a third of the
valuation of the land. and the trans
action to be handled through the
county officials. Delegates expressed
approval of the plan, the indication
being that the convention would go on
record in favor of the bill, but many
seemed to think the interest rate
would have TO become lower than 5
per cent eventually, to meet federal
farm loan rates, and that the one
third limit would have to be raised.
Mr. Eagleson replied that these limi-
tations were imposed by the constitu-
tion, whereupon considerable time was
devoted to discussions of constitution
al amendments, and Mr.. Eagleson sig
nitied his willingness to meet with a
federation committee to advise on
suitable amendments
Discussion also indicated that the
farmers would insist on legislation to
permit submission of constitutional
amendments by initiative petition of
the people
When the subject of needed land
title reform was broached, W. G.
Nxcholtz, state director of farm mar
tets, who is president of the State
Federation Of Agriculturecesaid
"A bill for land title reform has
been introduced. Do you think that
bill is in healthy conditSn, Mr.. Ea-
gleson?"
Mr.. Eagleson smilingly said he did
not.
"A majority of the legislators have
pledged themselves to the adoption OF
the ToTrens land title system" con
Col
tions are that the bill is not going TO
get through. Yet under the present
involYed system, eastern money will
not seek investment in our .ands, aid
we cannot blame it,"
Much was said also of house bills
so to 81, introduced in the interests of
the state department of farm markets,
TO broaden its scope. and revelationof
the sources of opposition to these
measures was promised for today.
These bills are a special order of busi-
mess today IN : : lower house, and
fevery disposition has been shown to
I strengthen them and befriend them in
the house. Speaker B. Harvey Alfred
told the farmers in the course of a
talk he made earlier in the session.
These bills are going through.
said d. r. Hubbard, representative
from Ada. but we want them to &c
through without any teeth pulled OF
any claws extracted"
Mr. Eagleson's land loan plan was
set forth as follows:
1T is, indeed, fortunate for the state
of Idaho that the federal farm credit
law has some limitations, else how
could the state hold down taxes by
keeping at work its rapidly growing
millions of dollars in permanent en-
dowment funds? AS it is, the loaninl
OF these funds will be to a large exten
in direct competition with fedora
farm loans.
There has been, or will be, bill
Introduced in the senate which. i
passed and becomes a law, believ'
will meet most of the conditions
First. it establishes the, amortization
plan of loaning on a per cent basis
that is, charging 6 per cent on the full
amount of the loan, payable semi-an
nually. per cent to be applied on tn
principal, thus forming new princi
pal on which to figure the interes
each payment This plan will pay il
self out in SO years. The bill is liberia
in it's working, and allows the Dor
rover the privilege of paying part o
all of the loan at any time. should h
care to do so. II also takes the start
ing of a loan down nearer the boz
rover
Application for a loan can be mad
TO the county commissioners, they
appraise the land, the assessor TO al
praise also, the county attorney to e,
anime the abstract, and if any flaw
found, it can be attended to quickl
and the matter Strengthened out befol
sending il in to the state board of Ian