Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-08
REPEAL Of WHEAT
PRICE LAW URGED
Senate Committee Told
That Guarantee Has Not
Been Made Good.
PUBLICITY Is URGED

e-
Repeal Of the government price
guarantee for wheat was urged before
the Senate committee on agriculture
today, and assertions were made that
the guarantee had not been carried
out.
Senator Norris. republican, Of Ne
braska. proposed the repeal Of the
guarantee and was supported by T. c.
Atkeson, Washington representative
of the National Grange. Senator
Gronna, chairman, and other commit.
tee members said the guarantee OF
1925 bushel was intended by Con-
gress to be the minimum price. with z
higher price possible under the law OF
supply and demand. Instead, they
said, the United States Grain Corpora
ton had made the minimum guarantee
the maximum price for the farmers.
Places Price to Farmers at $3.50.
Mr. Atkeson told the committee that
of only $3.50 q bushel for wheat this
year. He and Senator Gronna declared
that had the government not fixed the
price the farmers would receive much
more than the guarantee because of
world demand.
The same witness testified the grain
corporation had made large profits
from wheat sales that the farmer
should have received.
The grange representative said the
proposal to have the government buy
all wheat at $2.26 and sell 1t to the
consumer at 81 a bushel would be "a
subsidy to our blessed city popula-
tion.'
Complains of Grading Of Wheat.
Complaints against grading Of
wheat were made by Senators Curtis
and Capper of Kansas, republicans.
Senator Curtis said he had complained
to, President Barnes Of the grain cor
poration. without result.
Urges Publicity.
John A. Mcsparran,. master Of the
Penn Grange, urged an organisation
to advise the American public of the
facts in the food situation, as 1t af-
fects the farmers.
'The Department Of Agriculture
should have done it, should have pro-
Mr.. McSparran; TT 1t isn't done. the
American farmer will be in the soup.
THE people are Kicking at paying
$2.26 for wheat when they are pay
ing $36 q bushel in the form Of shred
ded wheat. Corn is selling at $40
bushel in the form Of toasted corn
fakes. The Quaker Oats Company
made 104 per cent pront on its in
vestment last year."
Says People Do Not Know Facts.
Senator Norris said there was uni
versal public misconception Of the
farmers interests in the food situa-
ton.
'-The people think the farmers are
getting $2.26 for wheat and they are
not" said Mr.. Norris. Tho people
don't know they are paying enormous
profits to the middleman."
A proposal by Senator Norris that
Chairman Gronna and the representa-
sue q statement to the public giving
tho exact facts Of the food situation
was approved by the committee. The
grange representatives told the COM
mittee that the newspapers now were
cooperating in giving publicity to
statements Of the farmers interests.
Wants Price-Fixing Laws Repealed
Senator Norris said he thought 1t
would be "a good idea to introduce
q bill for repeal Of every vestige Of
every statute" fixing wheat prices.
Then the public would soon know
that the price fixed for the farmers
benefit is q bugaboo." he said.
Senator France. republican, Of Mary
land declared Congress was respon-
sible for much blanc regarding food
prices.
I'VE passed laws" he said, ain vio-
lation Of every economic law at the
dfctation Of men who didn't know
what they were talking about"
You're absolutely right" Chair
man Gronna commented. but Mr..
Hoover refused to agree to fixing q
maximum price for wheat"
Charges Act behind Closed Doors
Senator France said the food con-
troll law had not been properly admin