The Holbrook news., 1918-11-15
HIGHER PRICE FOR 1919 WHEAT CROP
 URGED IN REPORT
Advice of Only Committee Farm- CTS Have at Capital Was
 Disregarded.

Chicago, nl-Some very startling
 facts are certain to develop as the re-
 suit of a resolution offered in the
 House of Representatives by Congress-
 man Anderson, Republican, of Mime
 sota, calling for an investigation of
 the report that, early in August, the Agricultural Advisory Committee ap- | pointed to investigate the cost of pro- ducing wheat and to recommend a guaranteed price for the 1919 harvest,
 recommended $2.46 as a minimum
 price to be guaranteed for 1919 wheat.
 The report and recommendation,
 when brought to light, will disclose the following facts: After four days ses-
 sion and hearings, the Agricultural Ad-
 Visory Committee, with seventeen of twenty-four members present, by the
 unanimous vote of those present, passed
 the following resolution to be trans
 mitted to the Secretary of Agriculture
 Resolved, That it is the sense of
 this Committee that a minimum price of $246 per bushel for No Northern Spring Wheat, or its equivalent, based on Chicago delivery, be fixed for the 1919 wheat crop"
 Need of Higher Prices.
 In support of its report the commit tee said while 1t believed the price of $220 per bushel as guaranteed for the 1918 wheat crop was, under all cir cumstances, reasonable, that 1t felt sure that
 'gThe wheat crop of 1919 cannot be produced on the same basis of cost | e, f01I od tional cost of commercial fertilizers and clover seed, which are necessary | to many sections in the successful | growing of wheat; the increased cost of farm machinery; the increased cost of accessories and repairs the increased cost of fuel and lubricating oils for the tractor engines used in preparing much of the land; the increased cost of skilled labor used in running such machines the increased and increas- ing cost of all common labor, both be- cause of higher wages due to lessened supply and of rapidly diminishing eff the increased demands of labor for improved living conditions, which must be met by the building of houses for the occupancy of married men, they being the only class now available in any substantial number for farm work" '
 The report further stated that on the basis of $2.46 wheat the cost of -four would be increased only one dol lar per barrel over the cost of flour on the basis of $2.20 wheat, and that the average yearly consumption of four Is less than one barrel per capita. Surely" says the report, lone dollar per annum cannot be regarded as an advance in the cost of lying, considering the level of wages ilready reached under war condi- ions"
 No Profit Allowed Farmers.
 Although this was the official recom- nendation of the committee, informal y 1t stated that in recommending $2.46 IS the guaranteed price for 1919 wheat hey named the minimum; that this ,rice does not include cost of fertiliz- ITS; that it allows only per cent. in- rease for labor and machinery, where s the government has allowed % per ent for these items in fixing prices a other industries; and that, finally, ] allows the farmer no percentage of roht at all.
 Of all the multitude of commissions nd committees handling war activi- les at our national capital this com littee is the only representation the Vorthern farmer has. That this rec ] reached after a careful 1quiry, should have been utterly ig- ored is sure to call for considerable lanation,-especially in view of he tender solicitude shown the cotton lanter who is making nearly 200 per ent. profit on the basis of his present rices which the administration re- nses to regulate.