The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-08-28
GRAIN CORPORATION
EXPLAINS PRICES
M. H. HOUSER REPUDIATES
PRINTED STATEMENTS WITH
REFERENCE TO ACTIVITIES

TO De some cOI1IuSlOIl III Iilc Liuuo ~
wheat growers as to the reasons why
different prices are offered by var1-
Gus firms for the same grades OF
wheat, and in view of the fact that
some buyers are paying more than the
government maximum price, the Star
Mirror is glad to print the following
communication from NJ H., Houser,
second vice president of the United
States Grain corporation. Mr.. Houser,
whose headquarters are at Portland,
explains at some length the various
angles to the situation and endeavors
to clear up some of the intricate prob
lens in connection with the present
task and aims of the United States
grain corporation.
Governments Price Minimum.
81 notice an article appearing in the
press throughout Idaho, that Com
missioner Cannon, in an effort to
bring credit on himself, has seen fit
to make some erroneous and mislead-
ing statements, both in regard to the
Grain Corporation and myself. There
SCENE to be a great deal of stress laid
to the fact that the guaranteed basic
price is not the maximum price, as if
there had ever been any doubt or
QueSJlOl Oll ILLS SCOIe. IllS QucS
arose last June at the Farmers Union
meeting of the northwest, at Spokane,
Washington, wherein | clearly stated,
that the price fixed by the presidents
proclamation under the wheat control
act, was the minimum guaranteed
price that would at all times be avail
able to the farmer, providing he could
not get more and that nothing would
please the Grain Corporation more
than to see such good marketing ia
cilities, that the Grain Corporation
would not have to buy single bushei
of wheat.
Cooperation Ruling Spirit.
''We have tried at all times to work
with spirit of cooperation with the
marketing facilities that had always
existed and in order to assist in their
proper functioning, especially through
south Idaho, where freight rates are
high in any direction and in many
places, inadequate storage facilities.
We have worked necessarily during
the past two years with the railroad
administration, so that there would
be an ample car supply to give all sta
tions a free movement and thereby
accelerate as much as possible, the
buying competition of the dealers.
Furthermore, when the proclamation
came out, giving a guarantee to
reflect the $500 guarantee basic at
Pocatello, Idaho, we put forth our
pest efforts to bring. about the pay
nent of the $500 piice at any point
through the inter- mountain territory.
TO make this possible the
difference of freight rates had to
'e absorbed by the Grain Corporation
md on some of the branch lines it
to as much as 10 to Is cents
,er bushel Last year with the larg-
,st crop in the history of southern
daho, with few exceptions, the sur
,lus was practically moved by the
irst of December and all during the
lutumn months, with the exception of
! week or ten days, there was liber-
i car supply available, which in
tself was quite a contrast with the
ears preceding the operation of the
irain Corporation, when, many times
armers were compelled to wait sew
raj months for cars, to make ship
nents, as it was usually along in the
pring months before delivery could
e mads, necessitating the buyer ia
ing into. consideration the carrying
harges, when making purchases from
he farmer
Value of Car Supply.
FROM our past experiences we
ave found that nothing is so conduc-
5e to good country marketing con-
ltlons as an ample and adequate car
upply and we felt that by applying
ur activities in this direction, that
etter and more lasting results would
e obtained than by playing the dema-
ogue or swinging the big stick
'uring the past two years operations
re have tabulated the complaints on
he fair price basis from the three
tates and strange as it may seem,
e have received more complaints
,om the small dealers, farmers CO.
perative associations and others, that
ome of the larger interests were try
lg to force them out of business by
aging prices, with which they could
ot compete, than on complaints from
le farmers, that they were not get
ng the fair price for their wheat.
Grading Regulations of Wheat.
Every interior dealer, warehouse
elevator operator, is under con-
act with the Grain Corporation to
'ade all wheat that he may buy from
Z grower, LARRY ana accurately ana
at least pay for the same, price
at will fairly reflect the guaranteed
ice, less reasonable handling
argos and freight charges to the
arrest and most advantageous pri-
ary or delivery points, named under
e proclamation. When you consider
at we have received less than 20
mplaints in the two years work,
om the three states, on this score,
speaks for itself. Furthermore, we
We kept in close touch with the
1ounts of wheat sold, prices paid
ipments and the general country
They have also ags1ed to
st in their offices and at al&Points
lere grain is received, notice, copy
which was mailed to all the press
this zone to give it all the publicity
ssible, which clearly states that if
Y grower is not satisfied with the
ade or price offered him by the
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