Willmar tribune., 1919-04-23

.oHO'S "SN~Sy ~OVSVO OVu9' WV
k and Abuse of Franking Privilege
ong Farmers-Farmers' National
;iness Costs Public.
ed the work Of committees and were
absentee statesmen"
This season he comes out with
statement in the Searchlight on Con.
gress, showing that There is franked
out Of the house Office building daily
from 20 to 80 tons of mail matter, and
about election time this quantity IL
Increased to 80 or 40 tons. One con-
gressman sent out 100000 parcels Of
literature and one political party at
one election sent out 66,000,000
speeches.
"The organization Of the house has
become almost wholly a question Of
spoils and perQuisites. Pork and pat
ronage often outweigh all other ele-
ments in shaping legislation. The
committees-probably at least half Of
them-are needless burden upon the
people, maintained only because they
provide chairmanships and perquisites
for the little oligarchy Of msmbers in
control Of them.
I'm short, we have become a kind Of
political stock exchange, gambling in
pork and patronage, and this at 4 time
when there should be and must be the
very maximum Of efficiency and econ
omy if we are to deal adequately
with the crucial Issues of reconstruc-
ton"
STEERING Committee GROWS.
The five millionaire members of the
Republican steering committee in the
house-Moore of p >nnsylvania, Long
worth of Ohio, Mondell of Wyoming.
Dunn Of New York and Winslow of
Massachusetts, are about ready to
agree that Anderson Of Minnesota,
Nolan of California, Towner of Iowa
and Reavis Of Nebraska should be add
ed to their number. Nolan II about
the only trade union man on the Re.
publican tide. He comes from San
Francisco, and is conservative. from
tho standpoint Of anybody west of
Pennsylvania. Anderson, Reavis and
Towner are considered necessary to
give the farmers showing.
LAND TAX REFORM.
Carl Brannin, manager OF the re-
has become executive secretary of the
Farmers National Single Tax league.
with Offices here. Brannin's organiza-
ton holds that the farmers Of this
country are going to have decisive
voice In the settlement Of the problem
Of the vast amounts Of land held out
Of use by SPECTATORS.
How land in southern California IL
held out of use is indicated In a dis.
cussion Of the land situation in tho
annual report of the California Com.
mission Of immigration and Housing,
just issued. An inquiry In the eight
counties in the southern end of the
state showed that there are 255 hold.
ings of 1000 or more acres each. com.
prising altogether some 4,893,916
acres. In five of these counties the
land grants and lieu lands of the
Southern Pacific company amount to
2,598,775 acres. OF the land in farms
in these southern counties, totaling
1857 900 acres, over half is held in
about 250 tracts.
The commission reports further
'That considerable part of the TILL
able land lies idle; that another con-
siderable part of 1t is not devoted to
it's most beneficial use; that though
there are many thousands of persons
eager to get access to this land, much
Of 1t is not for sale under any circum.
stances, and that such portions as are
for sale are held under prices usually
beyond the productive value and on
terms Of payment which mean great
hazard or ruin to the purchaser"
The commission recommends a grad.
uated land value tax, as q means OF
making large land holdings unprofit.
able.
FARMERS ASK BUSINESS COSTS.
George P. Hampton, managing di.
rector Of the Farmers National Head.
quarters here, has written a letter to
Acting Chairman Fort of the federal
trade commission, asking him to make
public the cost and production figures
which the commission obtained from
upwards Of 10000 companies in
scores of important industries" and
minor industries also since the com.
mission began its cost studies. The
statement has been made by Chairman
Colver that the commissions cost
studies cover industries whose prod.
uct amounts to at least $4,000, 600, 600
a year.
I'VE feel" says Hampton in his
letter, that this information is OF
very great Importance to the Amer
ican people, and while it was secured
for the immediate purpose of facili
tating and rendering more practical
the price-tixing policy of the federal
government during the war, that the
information should be made public
now.
Director General Of Railroads
Hines is reported to disapprove of the
price for steel rails agreed to by the
industrial board on the ground that
the price is 81 too high. Similar
questions will unquestionably come UP
IN most of the efforts of the indus.
trial board to get manufacturers to
agree on prices. Will it not make the
work Of this and similar boards easier
and reassure the public that no prof.
tteering will be permitted II the find.
'npS 0f the federal frodo coyn nrni,,lo~