New-York tribune., 1920-11-17
Kenyon Plans
Federal Aid
For L ar1ners
Senator Says Worker Must
Be Enabled to Break Even
on Business or Nations
Output VIII Be Menaced
Conference To BE Called
Million Homes Are Said To
Be Required to Take Care
of the Country's Needs
From. The Trsounes Washington Burea.

From The Trtbune's Washington Buredu
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.--Scnators
and Representatives of the agricultural
states Of the West will be called in con
fe,eMce early in the short session of
Congress, which convenes December g.
20 see what can be done by the Federal
government to help farmers as a result
OF the big drop in prices Of farm prod
ucts, Senator w. S. Kenyon, of Iowa,
said to-day on returning to the ma
tional Capitol.
Senator Kenyon is chairman Of the
Labor and Education Committee, which
has been Investigating housing condi-
tions in the United States The COM
mittee has not limited itself merely
to the field assigned by the Senate, but
has studied reconstruction problems
in general. So far as the housing prob
lem is concerned. Senator Kenyon said
at least million homes were required
to take care of the country's needs.
Farmers Of the Middle West, Sena-
tor Kenyon said. were compelled to
sell their crops at prices below cost
He believed 1t the duty Of the Federal
government to take such steps as would
relieve this situation. Unless the
farmer could make at least cost of pro-
drction on his crops, the Iowa Senator
said, agriculture would be DISCOURAGED
to the point where the future of the
ration would be endangered seriously
The farmer, he insisted, pust be en-
abled at least TO break even on his bust
ness or there would be a.drift away
from the farms that would result in
underproduction and in the end in ma
tional famine.
May Revive War Board
Senator Kenyon predicted that an ef-
fort would be made to revive the War
Finance Corporation, so that surplus
crops could be sold abroad. At present
there was q demand for the wheat and
corn Of this country in Europe, but
because of lack of credit on the other
SIDE, the transactions could not be com
rlcted. Revival Of the War Finance
Corporation would solve this problem
n the opinion of Senator Kenyon.
In addition to other subjects studied
ty the Kenyon committee the coal ques~
ton was taken up. Government control
of the mines would be urged, Senator
kenyon said, unless the operators
peedily brought down the price. Be
cause of the heavy output at the mines
n the last few weeks there had been a
harp decline in coal prices. The Iowa
enator believed there should be big
ser reduction. The cost of production
re insisted, was still far below the
price being exactod of the public.
Concerning the general housing
problem, Senator Kenyon said Fed
eral home bank should be worked out
1T the short session Of Congress. Con
tinuine he said:
II believe that it is imperative that
something should be done The pres.
cnt situation is creating a great dea
Of unrest. Home owning is d great
cure for Bolshevism. The man who
own his own home viii give little at
tention to radicalism Of that kind"
Millions Not Housed Properly
Senator Kenyon attended the hear
.ngs of the committee in Chicago The
information obtained by the committee
he said, was that 100000 persons ir
that city were not properly housed
He estimated there were probably 20,
100000 persons in this country who
were not housed as they should be
for health and sanitary conditions.
81 went into one cOngestcd district il
| Chicago and found an average of sew
enteen persons to home. In ore weel
there were eighteen men to be hanget
in Chicago. Much of the crime wa:
| due undoubtedly to the failure to PRO
vide proper homes for the children"