The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-08
Ha9an ;iot Presen:.

Ha0an ;jot Presen..
81 was not present at any cabinet
conference held last night, il there
was such conference said Commits
sioner of Agriculture John N. Hagan
this morning. Il understand that q
special session is under consideration.
The seed and feed situation in some
parts Of the state is critical-far more
serious than many realize. The coun.
ty bonding plan was framed to care
for the 160-acre homestead, and the
amount of seed grain that might be
furnished any one farmer was restrict.
ed to $50 bushels. That will not suf-
flee to plant half of the normal pres.
ent-day North Dakota farm, which av-
crages more than 300 acres in size
May Mean Many Things.
The governor since first expressing
his, determination to call special
session, is said to have taken cogniz.
ance of many dangers attending this
step. Once assembled, the legislature
will be master of it's own deliberations.
1t need not adjourn until it sees fit,
and it may 60 into host of investi-
cations The capitol is seething with
discord, and any member of the ad.
ministration who might desire another
department investigated might not
have much difficulty in mastering
enough strength in one house or an.
other to bring about such investiga.
tion. "
&c tho rh ~ H0VoAv
Bill "A. ..F ye .ar.as VI.
What is really back of the demand
on the part Of the league for spe-
cial session, with its attendant ex.
pense of 100000 or more, may appear
in the governors official proclamation,
expected some time this evening:
No Good Advertising.
"The requests made for an apprO.
piration of fifty million dollars out of
the federal treasury for the purchase
of seed and feed have naturally not
given North Dakota very favorable ad.
vertising in eastern newspapers
writes Rep. P. D. Norton Of the Third
North Dakota district, in reply to a
letter from Secretary Keniston of the
Bismarck Commercial club, urging
that something be done for the relief
of North Dakota farmers. Secretary
Keniston, in his letter. stated: y am
speaking from my own observation
when l say that almost the entire wes.
tern portion of the state has suffered
seriously from crop shortage or fail
ure, occasioned by drouth when fields
yielding two or three bushels of wheat
would not have been cut had 1t not
been for the price of approximate
ly $2."
Having canvassed the situation
quite thoroughly here in congress and
in the treasury and agricultural de-
partments," writes Congressman Nor
ton, Il am of the opinion there is very
little hope of securing through con.
gress an appropriation of a single
dollar to buy seed or feed to sell to
farmers in any part of the country.
1.-The department Of agriculture has
already available an appropriation of
three million dollars to cooperate with
local authorities in restricted districts
in the purchase of seed and feed to be
sold to farmers at cost for cash. The
only substantial relief that see that
can be obtained for farmers in our
state this year is through county and
local aid and through the federal re-
serve bank at Minneapolis and the fed
eral land bank at st. Paul. j am al
ready advised that number OF the
counties in western North Dakota Will
be able to issue bonds SO as to take
care of large part of the needs OF
farmers in these counties for Feed
and seed. Officials of the feCeral re-
serve bank of Minneapolis have prom.
ised me that every possible accommo'
dation will be extended by the feder.
al reserve bank of Minneapolis to
farmers and bankers in North Dakota
during tn ecoming year so as to help
out the financial condition In our state
and enable farmers to put in maxi
mum crop acreage next spring.
"Myself and half-dOzen other
members of congress who were most
interested and active in bringing about
the passage of the federal rural credit
law have been busy at work the past
few weeks in advocating and getting
support for bill appropriating $780,
900 900 to be used to take up and
pay for farm loans that have already
been applied for
Poverty-Stricken State.
Frankly" says Senator Porter J.
McCumber in reply to Secretary Ken
iston, II do not believe that We sh0uM
at this time try to advertise oar seaae
(Coutinoed O Pc 16fee