The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-10

anti-liquor force. There would be
| practically no opposition to the
resolution approving the amend
ment. the prohibition leaders point
out, and they look upon immediate
action as vital to the cause in the
nation, holding that North Dakota's
prompt action would be held up as
| indicative of the belief Of a state
long operating under prohlDltory
! laws.
The seeming certainty that the
wOmens suffrage amendment also
will be passed by congress before
| the state assembly meets, likely will
| bring that proposition to the front,
though neither Of these federal con-
stitutional amendments seems likely
to come I'D with administration APP
proval. though Governor Frazier Is
supporter of both propositions.
Seed Grain Issue.
The seed grain issue, itself, bids
fair to give the legislators no small
degree of concern. AS Governor Fra
zier and Commissioner OF Agricul-
ture ]. N. Hagan have indicated in
interviews, the present county seed
bonding act permits a county TO give
each farmer a maximum OF 15V
bushels of seed wheat, or the equiv
alent thereof. The county may also
provide the farmer with enough
feed for his horses to seed only that
grain supplied by the county.
The governor and the commis-
sioner Of agriculture who were alone
among state officers in their ad-
vocacy Of the extraordinary session,
hold that the maximum limit OF
supply should be removed to the end
that farmers may be given more
substantial aid in the matter OF both
seed and wheat, while Commission
or Hagan also believes it may be
necessary to provide for even addi-
tional financial aid for some farmers
Reports gathered by the commis-
sioner Of agriculture indicate. ne
saws, that there is real distress In
about 25 counties, and that prac-
tically all of them are in positlon
to issue bonds for seed and feed
nurposes, and keep within the con-
stitutional bond limit Of five per
In opening the seed grain and feed
issue on such a wide scope as con-
by the administration the
will be confronted WIN
the problem of setting new aid
limit, or removing the limit enuFe-
ly. steps, also, to safeguard the ad-
Of huge county SEED
funds are also likely, and Commis-
sioner of Agriculture Hagan beheVeS
some plan of cooperative or cen
tralized buying Of grain and distri-
button by a central bureau or sin
gle official. should be worked out TO
the end that the overhead expense
be eliminated to the greatest degree
possible. and to the further end
that each locality receive its SEED
and feed with the slightest possible
use of the transportation facilities
Would Require Legislative Power
Successful working out OF the
plan for Centralized
buying and distribution would neces-
sarily entail the extension TO the bu-
reau or officer of the necessary
power by the legislature, and IT mas
been suggested that the assembly
provide, i'm cases where seed bonds
are issued, that all grain purchased
must be handled through the central
a gency. whatever il may be. This
would eliminate competition in seed
and grain buying, and Commissioner
of Agriculture Hagan believes 1t
would result in keeping within the
state all of the seed now available,
and thus eliminate the tretghtI
charge on grain from the primary
market to the terminal, and from
the terminal back to the farmer
Also, it would serve to eliminate the
mixing of North Dakota seed at the
terminals.
Some safeguard against the ex-
tension of county seed aid to farm
srs who are in position to finance
their own operations, is also held
vital to the proper development OF
county aid on such extensive scale
as the commissioner of agriculture
estimates will be needed. His estl-
mates fix $5,000,000 as the sum re-
luired to put the farmers or the
stricken regions In shape
20 carry on operations on norman
1asis the coming year.
Administration of Funds Lax
In the past, the administration of
he county seed bonding act has
)een q source OF trouble 70 nearly
svery county that has operated un-
Ter it. according to several state Of
1cials who have taken the time to
study the problem. They point out
hat the easy rate Of interest,
Usually six per cent, and the gener-
lily lax methods OF making collec-
ions have resulted in many farmers
aking advantage OF the measure
when they were, as a matter Of fact,
n position to continue their FARMING
county support. In many
- farmers possessing sufii-
lent seed grain would sell IL, real
zing cash on their transactions, and
would then turn about and borrow
ICED grain from the county.
Commissioner Hagan is opposed TO
Ieed distribution to farmers who are
lot actually absolutely dependent.
Two Counties Act.
Up to the present time, two North
Dakota counties have taken steps to
ssue bonds for buying seed. Ward
las authorized a $250.000 bond is
ue, and Stark county has authorized
. 500, 900 issue, both Of which are
ieId insufficient for the actual needs
4 the two counties, according to
Commissioner Hagan's reports.
Feed Problem Vital.
Commissioner Hagan, in present.
ny the need for a special session Of
ne legislature, declares the seed is
ne rs really Of secondary import
nee as compared with the feed
roblem. Throughout the west and
entral sections OF North Dakota,
arm horses are ranging. The horses,
ef0re they are in condition for