The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record., 1918-07-18
PRESIDENT VETOES $a.4o
WHEAT
Declares That Proposed Increase
Would Add Materially to the
High Cost Of Living.

| Washington, July I2.-ln VetOihG
the .$28,ooo,ooo annual agriculture ap-
preparation bill because of its amend-
ment fixing the government guaran-
tee minimum wheat price at $40 a
bushel, the president informed con-
gress today that he did not believe
the farmers OF America depend upon
a stimulation of price to do their ut
most to serve the nation and the
world at this time OF crisis"
The presidents message follows:
II regret to return without my sig
nature SO important measure as
House bill oo54, entitled AN act max
ing. appropriations for the department
OF agriculture for the year ending
June 80, 1919, but feel constrained
to do so because of my earnest dis
sent from the point of view of prin-
ciple, as well as wise expediency
from the provisions of that part of
section II, which prescribes uni
form minimum price for No. north
ern spring wheat of $2.4o bushel.
Il dissent upon principle because |
believe that such inelastic legislative
price provisions are insusceptible OF
being administered in way that will
be advantageous either to the produc-
er or TO the consumer. establishing
as they do arbitrary levels which are
quite Independent of the normal mar
ket- conditions, and because l believe
that the present method OF regulation
by conference has resulted in the
most satisfactory manner, consider
ing the complexity and variety OF the
suggested matter dealt with.
1T is evident that the present
method OF determining the price to
be paid for wheat has had the most
stimulating effect upon production,
the estimated crop of spring wheat
for this year exceeding all high rec
ords in d very remarkable and graft
flying way. BY an overwhelming ma
jority OF the farmers OF the United
States the price administratively
fixed has been regarded as lair and
liberal and objections to it have come
only from those sections of the coun-
try where, unfortunately, it has in re-
cent years proved impossible to rely
upon climatic conditions to produce a
full crop of wheat and where, there.
fore, many disappointments to the
farmer have proven to, be unavoid-
able.
PERSONALLY | Go not believe the
farmers of the country depend upon
the stimulation OF price to do their
utmost 10 serve the nation and the
world at this time Of crisis by exert
ing themselves to an extraordinary
degree to produce the largest and
best crops possible. Their patriotic
spirit in this matter has been worthy
of all praise and has shown them
playing most admirable and crafty
ing part in the full mobilization OF the
resources of the country. To very
greatly increased production OF wheat
they have added an increased produc-
ton of almost every other important
grain, SO that our granaries are likely
to overflow, and the anxiety OF the
nations arrayed against Germany
with regard to their food supplies has
been relieved.
The administrative methods or
agreeing upon fair price has this
very great advantage which any ele-
ment of rigidity would in large part.
destroy, namely, the advantage OF
flexibility, OF rendering possible at
every stage and in the view of every
change of experience a readjustment
which will be fair alike to producer
and consumer.
"A fixed minimum price OF $2.4o
per bushel would, il is estimated, add
So per barrel to the price OF flour; in
other words. raise the price of flour
from the present price OF 5000 to
$I2.5o at the mill, and inasmuch as We
are anticiating a crop of approximate
ly ooo, ,ooo. 900 bushels of wheat, this
increase would be equivalent to the
immense sum OF $3S7 100000.
"Such an. increase of the price OF
wheat in the United States would
force corresponding increase in the
price of Canadian wheat. The allied
governments would, of course be
obliged to make all of their purchases
at the increased figure, and the whole
scale of their financial operations in
this country, in which the govern
ment of the United States is directly
assisting would be thereby cores
pondingly enlarged, The increase
would also add very materially to the
cost of living, and there would be in
evitable such an increase in the wages
paid in practically every industry in
the country. These added financial
and economic difficulties, affecting
practically the whole world, cannot,
[ assume, have been in contempla-
tion by the congress in passing this