Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-18
An Economy That Hurts Farmers.

The House of Representatives has suc
cecdei in passing the Agricultural bil
calling for appropriations totnling so,
OS5, 900. Following their newly announced
policy of economy" the Republican lead
ers pared the total asked by the Depart
mcnt of Agriculture by something over
$4,000, 900, but, the Democrats aver, at
the cost Of efficiency. The loss 20 the
farmers because Of greatly decreased
efficiency will amount 10 a much greater
sum, il is asserted.
Of the $4,000, 900 appropriated for
agricultural matters about 0,OO0, 900 is
devoted to maintenance of the forestry
service, enforcing the pure food and drug
inspection. Representatives from agri-
cultural states maintain these sppropria-
tions have no. place in this bill
and curtail needed appropriations for
purely agricultural purposes.
The Bureau of Crop Estimates is point
ed out as an instance Of false economy on
the part of the Republican leaders in
the House. The Department of Agricul-
ture asked s79O.OOO for this item, but
the House committee reduced this to $780,
600, which is claimed to be an inadequate
sum for the furthering Of work Of great
importance to the farmers. There is
general demand for sound, unbiased gov
ernment estimates as to crop yields and
prospects. Grain exchanges and gram
commission firms have compiled crop
estimates for many years, but they are
not regarded as accurate except from
the speculative standpoint, and from the
point of view Of commission firms their
figures naturally are TO guide their individ-
ual purchases and sales. The Department
of Agriculture has been perfccting its
Bureau of Estimates gradually, and now
when the efforts are attaining success the
work is seriously handicapped, II is said
by this curtsilment of funds.
The Bureau of Markets was another
item that lost heavily when pruned by
the Republican economists" They
eliminated $500, 900 from this phase OF
agricultural work, although it is estimated
this bureau has saved tho farmers in
calculable sums by affording them the |
for easy and rapid disposition /
Of their products Because of this the I
consumers also have saved millions, being /
enabled to buy food products at much
lower prices
The cutting of the appropriation IN
volving the use Of the government formula
for a serum for the prevention Of hog chol-
era, is another point Of dubious economy,
in the minds of many in the House. This
serum, testimony indicates, has been very
successful as a preventative Of hog cholera.
The government permits various firms and
to manufacture the serum under
rigid inspection. At the same time the
Department Of Agriculture has maintain
d force Of experts TO not only teach the
log raiscrs the value of the serum, but j
iso its application.
The eliminating Of $500. 900 from this
articular item means that the number OF ,
experts must bc cut down 70 a I
otal inadequate for the handling OF the :
immense territory involved. Also. the
>rce of inspectors, whose business it is /
) see that those manufacturing the serum I
O not produce an Inferior product. must
e cut down This may affect the quality
the product, and consequently the hog
reduction
More than 1000 farmers Craze their !
yestock on the forest reserves OF America, :
I'D this privilege is invaluable to those :
siding in the sem%arid sections The
-ice of grazing permits was raised once
the last SIX years, but now that the !
epubhcans Incorporated a provision for ;
300 per cent increase in the Agricultural {
II, a tremendous protest is expected from !
e Far West when the bill comes before :
e Senate. No hearings were granted on {
is increase, and the stock growers of !
dorado. Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, |
ew Mexico. Arizona, Utah, California T
lew nothing of IT until the proposal IN Y
e committee room. {
This is q fair specimen OF Republican /
outcome of Republican :
rtisan jealousy and not in any manner v
nducive 10 good results