The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-04-25

out Of the house Office building daily
from 20 to 80 tons of mail matter,
and about election time this quantity
is increased to 80 or 40 tons. One
congressman sent out 100000 par
GELS of literature and one political
party at one election sent out 3d.
100000 speeches.
"The organization of the house
has become almost wholly a question
of spolls and perquisites. Pork and
patronage often outweigh all other
elements in shaping legislation. The
committees-probably at least half
of them-are a needless burden upon
the people, maintained only because
they provide chairmanships and per-
quisities for the little oigarchy Of
members in control of them.
"In short, we have become kind
Of political stock exchange, gambling |
| in pork and patronage, and this at a
time where there should be and must |
| be the very maximum of efficiency
and economy if we are to deal ade-
quately with the crucial issues of re-
construction"
STEERING COMMITTEE GROWS
The five millionaire members of
the Republican steering committee
in the house-Moore of Pennsyl-
vania, Longworth 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 Ne
braska should be added to their
number. Nolan is about the only
trade union man on the Republican
side. He comes from San Francisco,
and is conservative, from the stand
/ point Of anybody west of Pennsyl-
, vania. Anderson, Reavis and Town
er are cosidered necessary to give
the farmers a showing.
p LAND TAX REFORM
e Carl Brannin, manager of the re-
= cent single tax campaign in Mis-
y souri,, has become executive secre
' tary of the Farmers National Single
: Tax league, with Offices here. Bran
e Minis organization holds that the
e farmers of this country are going to
|, have a decisive voice in the settle
r ment of the problem of the vast
T. amounts of land held out of use by
l. spectators.
J. How land in southern California is
a held out of use is indicated in dis
= cussion of the land situation in the
# annual report of the California Com
# mission of immigration and Hous'
J. ing, just issued. An inquiry in thu
N eight counties in the southern end O
t. the state showed that there are 20
a. holdings of 1000 or more acres each
,e comprising altogether some 4,o93,
h 915 acres. In five of these countle
,e the land grants and lieu lands o
10 the Southern Pacific company amour
to 2,598,775 acres. Of the land il
r.. farms in tl.ese southern counties, 10
at ta:lng l.ES7.0 900 acres, over half
Nv held in about $50 tracts.
10 The commission reports furthe
ed "That a considerable part of the til
sh able land lies idle; that another cor
at siderable part of it is not devoted
tn its most beneficial use; that thong
he there are thousands of persons eat
$50 er to get access to this land, much
di- it is not for sale under any clrcun
of stances, and that such portions
40 are for sale are held under prlc'
ial usually beyond the productive vail
and on terms of payment while
a mean great hazard or ruin to Il
ur- purchaser
red The commission recommends
graduated land value tax, as
means of making large land holdn
to improbable. -oc,
be FARMERS ASK BUSINESS COS1
of George F. Hampton, managing
the rector of the Farmers Nation
.ac- Headquarters here, has written Il
tor ter to Acting Chairman Fort Of t
re- federal trade commission, ASK
wei him to make public the cost and pl
the duction figures which the commlssl
nti- obtained from upwards Of 1o,U
.itv companies in scores of important
est dustries" and minor industries
sIlv since the commission began its c.
the studies. The statement has be
no" made bv Chairman Colver that
l1ed commissions cost studies cover
dustries whose product amounts
ma at least s3O,OOO000,000 year.
on owe feel" says Hampton in
ook letter. chat this information is
-ked very great Importance to the Anne
dow can people, and while it was secu
rker for the immediate purpose OF FAC
and tating and rendering more practl
be- the price-fxing policy of the fede
in government during the war, that
ism. Information should be made pu
ION now.
der "Director General of Rallros
idon Hines is reported to disapprove
man the price for steel rails agreed to
the the industrial board on the gro
ners, that the price is 81 too high: 81
bont lar questions will unquesuon:a
edu- come up in most of the efforts OF
or a industrial board to get manu1ac
been ers to agree on prices. VIII II
n bv make the work of this and sim
vhich boards easier and reasssure the
cam lie that no profteering Will be
re- mitted if the findings of the ted
omen trade commission, to which IN
the man Colver referred, are MADE
ecure lic?"
re of
amily
d ,a, GROCERIES