Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-08
REPEAL OF
WHEAT PRICE
IS SOUGHT
Higher Prices For Farmer is
Urged by Senators
Today.

Washington. Aug. S.-Repeal of the
government price guarantee for wheat
to enable farmers to secure higher
prices was urged at a special meeting
today of the senate agriculture COM
mittee. Action by the committee was
deferred.
Senator Norris, Republican, Ne
braska, proposed repeal of the price
guarantee, and T. c. Atkeson, wash
ington representative of the National
Grange, endorsed it.
Make Report.
Mr.. Atkeson testified that the grain
corporation had made large profits
from wheat sales that the farmer
should have received. He said the
proposal to have the government buy
all wheat at $2.26 and sell it to the
consumer at 81 a busnel, would be a
subsidy Ito our blessed city popula-
ton"
Complaints against grading of
and Capper of Kansas. Republicans.
Senator Poindexter, Republican, Of
Washington, referring to President
Wilson'S plan to ask congress for ad-
ditional legislation to lower the cost
of living, said the difficulties of the
situation were due largely to govern
ment action as war, measures"
MOI OHfT1e0 OfuL.
Senator Norris, Chairman Gronna
the wheat price guarantee law has not
been carried out. The 1926 guaran-
tee. they declared, was intended by
congress to. be the minimum price
with higher, price possible under
the law Of supply and demand. In
stead, they asserted, the United States
grain corporation had made the min
imum guarantee the maximum price
for the farmer.
Mr.. Atkeson told the committee the
farmer would receive an average of
only $1.50 per bushel for wheat this
year. He and Senator Gronna de-
clared that. had the government not
fixed the price. farmers would receive
much more than the guarantee be-
cause Of the prospective wheat short
age and world demand
Middle Man Gets Profits.
John A. Mcsparran, master of the
ganization to advise the American
public of the facts in the food stu
alton as it affects the farmers.
''The department of agriculture
should have done it, should have pro-
tected US, but it has not done it," said
McSparran. IF it is not done, the
American farmer will be in the soup.
THE people are kicking at paying
1926 for wheat when they are pay
ing $36 bushel in the form of shred
ded wheat. Corn is selling at $1.90
and the people are paying $12 a
bushel in the form of toasted corn
flakes. The Quaker Oats company
made 104 per cent profit on its in
vestment last year."
Senator Norris said there was uni
versal public misconception of the
farmers interests in the food stu
alton.
"The people think the farmers are
getting $2.26 for wheat and they are
not" said Mr.. Norris. 1.-The people
don't know they are paying enormous
profits to the middleman."
A proposal by Senator Norris that
Chairman Gronna and the represen-
tatives of the Grange orga anizations
issue statement to the public, giving
the exact facts of the food situation
was approved by the committee.
1.-The president he said, was
vested with almost absolute powers to
handle the food situation. am OF
the opinion that it will not be posi-
BILE for congress to device any addi-
.tional legislation to give the president
any greater powers than he has at
present to deal with the situation.
The president has dictatorial powers.
I think they ought to be used now in
this emergency"
Chairman Gronna said government
agencies were refusing to do any
thing to lower the cost of living and
that congress was not at fault.