Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-01-11
BAGS VITAL PROBLEM
SAYS GRAIN HEAD
NJ. III. Houser Deals With Timely
Question Before Grain
Convention

Citing the grain bag situation as
the most vital problem now confront
ing the farmers of the Northwest. M
II, Houser, head of the food admin
lstration grain corporation for the
Northwest, before the wheat conven-
ton Saturday urged a united and
strenuous effort on the part of the
farmers and shippers to induce the
shipping administration to release a
few ships to transport bags for the
1918 crop from Calcutta. The only
two possible remedies for the bag
situation, according to the federal
grain man, are the bulking of prac-
tically the eRtire crop or the release
of ships to carry the bags He called
attention to the fact that 1t will be
impossible for all farmers to adopt
the bulk system at once. and stressed
| the point that every farmer must con-
slider it his duty to assist in placing
the matter in its true light before the
shipping heads, at the same time
bulking as much of the Northwest
crop as possible, especially that
wheat going to Minneapolis.
Under the demoralized commercial
shipping conditions, Mr.. Houser
called attention to the increase In
freight rates on grain bags from Cal
cutta from ST and So per ton to $98
to 500, making the bags impossible
under these conditions. If only
enough shipping could be released to
take care of part of this tonnage,
he maintained, the partial receipts
might induce lower rates by CONNER
cial companies and solve the situa-
ton
Following the discussion of the
grain bag situation the convention
voted to delegate to the resolutions
committee. including j. S. Klemgard
of Pullman, Frank Atkinson of
Spokane and II. e. Goldsworthy of
ever steps they may deem necessary
to assist in getting bags to handle
the 1913 crop.
In touching on the subject of
screenings and the clamor from the
farmers for monetary return on the
screenings, Mr. Houser advanced the
opinion that all this foreign matter
should be eliminated before. the
wheat is marketed, calling attention
to the fact that it costs practically as
much to clean the wheat at the ter
minals as the screenings are worth.
The farmers may be able to get
Some return from the screenings"
he said, but they should, especially
under the bulk system, be able to
take care of the thing for them
selves"
Mr. Houser touched briefly upon
the basic prices offered, stating that
with government rail control and
added shipping facilities to result
from the wholesale construction of
ships, these problems would prob
ably take care of themselves.
That the federal grain corporation
will take care of the demands of the
farmer for spring seed wheat of all
varieties was the quieting news
brought to the convention by Mr..
Houser, who stated that sufficient
wheat would be held to supply all the
farmers who find themselves short OF
seed under the unusual conditions
which will require an exceptionally
heavy spring seeding. He estimated
that between one-half a million and
a full million bushels would be re-
quired for this purpose. He advised
that the farmers pool their orders for
this wheat as much as possible to re-
lieve the shipping requirements, and
stated that the wheat would be sold
at a price that would be eminently
fair to the farmer.
ChlOl LuhdICisb ohlh AiOASCiB
conditions were such that this year
the farmer with the good wheat was
forced to carry, to certain extent,
the farmer with the poor wheat.
Under the new standards, however,
this condition will be remedied, and
the farmer who raises better wheat
than his neighbor will come into his
own"
Mr.. Houser urged the farmers who
feel that abuses exist In the method
of handling their grain to feel per-
fectly at liberty to register their OBJ
jections or complaints with his Of
flee, stating that full consideration
will be given every complaint filed.
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