The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-08
FARMERS WANT
HIGHER WHEAT
Grain State Senators Urge
Repeal of Government
Guarantee.

Washington, Aug. S.-Repeal of the
government price guarantee for
wheat, to enable farmers to secure
higher prices. was urged at special
meeting today of the senate agricul-
ture committee. Action by the COM
mittee was deferred.
Senator Norris, republican, Ne
braska, proposed repeal Of the price
guarantee and it was indorsed by T.
C. Atkeson, Washington represent
ative of the aNtional Grange.
THAT is exactly what the farmers
are praying for" said he.
Senator Norris, Chairman Grpnna
and other committee members, said
the wheat price guarantee law has
not been carried out. The $226
guarantee, they declared, was in
tended by congress to be the mini
mum price with a higher price pos
sible under the law of supply and
demand instead, they asserted, the
United States grain corporation had
made the minimum guarantee the
maximum price for the farmers.
Mr.. Atkeson told the committee
that the farmer would receive an
average of only $3.50 per bushel for
wheat this year. He AMI Senator
Gronna declared that had the gavSs
ernment not fixed the price farmef5
would receive much more than the
guarantee because Of tie prospective
wheat shortage and world demand.
Mr.. Atkeson testified that the grain
corporation had made large profits from
wheat sales that the farmer should
have received.
The Grange representative said the
yrnnnGnI IN have the government h1lV
all wheat at 1925 and sell it to the
consumer at 81 bushel, would he "a
subsidy to our blessed city population"
Senator Poindexter republican. OF
Washington, referring to President Will
sons plan to ask congress for addi..
tional legislation to lower the cost of
living, said. the difficulties of the situ-
alton were due largely to government
action as war measures"
The president" he said, was vested
the food situation. I am of the opinion
that it will not be possible for con-
gress to devise any additional legisla-
ton to give the president any greater
powers than he has at present to deal
with the situation now. The president
ought to be repealed, the fact is that
they are not repealed and ought to
be used now in this emergency"
Congress Not at Fault"
Chairman Gronna said government
agencies were refusing to do any.
thing to lower the cost of living and |
that congress was not at fault. John |
A. McSparran, master of the Penn |
Grange, urged an organization TO ad-
wise the American public of the fact |
in the food situation as it affects the !
farmers.
"The department of agriculture
should have done it. should have pro-
tected us, but it hasn't done it," said |
Mr.. McSparran.
THE people are kicking at paying |
s2.26 for wheat, when they are paving |
$50 a bushel in the form of shredded
wheat. Corn is selling at s19o and the
people are paying $12 a bushel in the
form of toasted cornfakes. The Quaker |
Oats company made 1o4 per cent. profit ,
on its investment last year"
Senator Norris said there wa: uni
versal public misconception of the
farmers interests in the food situa-
ton The people think the farmers are
getting 1925 for wheat and they are
not" said Mr.. Norris. THE people
don't know they are paying enormous
profits to the middle man."
Urge Grange Statement.
A proposal by Senator Norris that
Chairman Gronna and the representa-
ives of the grange organizations issue
l statement to the public giving the
exact facts of the food situation was
tppIONtu ny Tic CuIIIlllltt- Ilt
representatives told the committee that
he newspapers now were cooperating
n giving publicity to statements of the
armers' interests. !
Senator Norris said he thought 1t
would be good idea" to introduce a
oill for repeal Of "every vestige of every
statute" fixing wheat prices. Then
he public would soon know that the
price was fixed for the farmers bene-
It is a bugaboo." said he.
Senator France, republican, OF Mary
and. declared congress was responsible
or much blame regarding food prices.
I'VE passed laws" he said, "in vio-
alton Of every economic law at the
lictation of men who didn't know what
hev were talking about
You're absolutely right" Chairman
Sronna commented, but Mr. Hoover
efused to agree to fixing a maximum
,rice for wheat"
Senator France said the food control
aw had not been properly administered.
Neat prices, he charged. had been fixed
W the food administration behind
losed doors" which gave the packers
Who had representatives on the board,
xorbitant profits.