Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-08-09
REPEAL WHEAT
GUARAN TEE IS
GRANGE DEMAND
Middlemen Getting Ben
eft, Not Farmer, Is
Assertion.
s3e A BU. WHEN BAKED,
CORN s12 AS FLAKES

the government price guarantee
for wheat, to enable farmers to oh
tain higher prices, was urged at
special meeting today, of the senate
agriculture committee. Legislation
by the committee was deferred.
Senator Norris, republican, Me-
braska, proposed repeal of the price
lngton, representative Of the ma
tionai grange, indorsed It,
Senator Norris, Chairman Gron-
ma and other committee members
said the wheat price guarantee law
has not been carried out. The S2.26
guarantee, they asserted, was In
tended by congress to be the mini
mum price, with higher price
possible under the law Of supply and
demand. Instead they asserted, the
United States Grain corporation
had made the minimum guarantee
the maximum.
SI.5O ONLY FOR FARMERS.
Mr.. Atkinson testified that the Grain
the farmer would receive an average
of only $1.5O per bushel for wheat this
year. He and Senator Gronna asserted
that, had the government not fixed the
price, farmers would receive much
more than the guarantee, because of
the 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 pro-
posal to have the government buy all
wheat at $2.26 and sell it to the con-
sumer at 81 a bushel would be a sub
sidy to our blessed city population
Asserts Wilson Has Power.
Senator Pondexter. republican, of
Washington, referring to President Will
sons plan to ask congress for additional
legislation to lower the cost of living
said the peculiarities of the situation
were due to the governments action as
war measure.
"The president" he said, "was vested
with almost absolute powers to handle
the food situation. | am of the opinion
that it will not be possible for congress
70 devise any additional legislation to
give the president any greater powers
to deal with the situation now"
John A. McSparran, master Of the
Pennsylvania grange, urged an orsaniza
tion to advise the American public Of
the facts in the food situation as it af-
fects the farmers.
Prices to Farmer; That to Consumer /
"The department of agriculture should 1
have done it, should have protected us. 7
but 1t has not done it." said McSparran. I
THE people are kicking at paying 81. .26 I
Ior wheat when they are paying S36 /
bushel in the form of bread wheat"
Corn is selling at 130 and the peo-
pie are paying So a bushel in the form
Of toasted corn flakes. The Quaker Oats
company made l0f per cent profits on
its investment last year.
Senator Norris said there was uniyer-
sal public misconception of the farmers
interests in the food situation.
The people think the farmers are
getting S2.26 for wheat and they are
not said Mr.. Norris. THE people don't
know they are paying enormous profits
to the middleman."
Would Repeal Every Vestige.
Senator Norris said he thought if
would be good idea to introduce a
Dill tor repeal Of EVERY vestign Of every
statute fixing wheat prices. Then The
public would soon know that the price
was fixed for the farmers benefit is a
bugaboo," said he.
Senator France, republican of Mary
land. declared congress was responshIe
for much blame regarding food prices,
We passed laws hc said, I'm viola
ton Of every economic law at the dict,
ton Of men who did not know what thov
we're talking about - .
You're absolutely right" Chairman
ironna commented. "Hut Mr.. Hoover
'efused 70 agree 10 fixing a maximum
price for wheat.
Senator France said the food control
aw had not been properly administered
Mat prices, he charged, had been
liked by the food administration behind
'losed DOORS which gave the packers.
who had representatives on the board,
profits