Evening star., 1920-12-12

The Bankers Association of South Dakota,
through It's president, presented a, request that
Congress should immediately legislate. guaran-
teeingsto the agriculturalist minimum price
for his surplus crop now on hand. Tho bankers
thought the guarantee should not be less than
81 per buRhel for corn. IS cents for oats. $225
for wheat and s. for max. AT the end OF the
year." the request added. ''there may be other
plans for saying the producer from bankruptcy!
Tho Same day Senator Gronna: presented in
the Senate . joint resolution providing another
means Of relief to the farmers the extension Of
credit. This was proposed to be done first by
rehabilftating the War Finance Corporation to
assist in the financing Of the expectation Of farm
products to foreign markets. and. second. by
directing the Federal Reserve Board. to grant
liberal credit to Farmers upon the security OF
the agricultural products now held. by them by
permitting the rediscounting of notes Of extern
sion at the lowest possible rate of interest. s-
Senator Lodge ;demurred. unless the resolu-
ton should be expanded to allow the mills Of
New England to participate in the benefits. say
ing that many mills are closing down because
they are carrying great quantities Of unsold
goods. Senator Gronna thought the War Finance
Corporation would take care Of the mills as we'll
as the farmers. 80
The question being raised whether the War
Finance Corporation would not have to issue
bondss to supply the credit, and thereby cause
further imitation. the opinion was expressed by
Senator Gronna, and concurred in by other SEN
ators, that no governmental appropriation or
bond issue would be required; that the moral
effect, Of the War Finance Corporation being
behind the credits would induce private invest
ors to put up the ready cash or securities to
back the credits. ). y .~rzs,..s, =
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;, Congressmen SEQ many portents Of sharp
division of opinion In this and the coming Con-
gress, more distinctly raised in the latter. be-
tween two elements Of thought latent Id the
country and finding expression in Congress.
Ono group favors government aid. and super
vision. ranging all the way from the moral sup
port" proposed by rehabilitated War Finance
Corporation to the, extreme demands Of the adj
vocates of tho Plumb plan, which turns over in
dustries to joint control with operatives Be-
tween these extremes are found suggestions for
partial control Of specific industries, such; as
taking over the coal mines. regulating the pack
ing industry. providing rules for moving Of
cold storage goods and their labelling. and on.
Another group is for keeping hands or and let
ting natural laws of supply and demand oper-
ate and work out the problems normally. IS !.
The great army Of consumers. bearing In
mind the salutary effects Of the pure food laws
enforced by the government; Of the meat In
spection laws, whose benefit and protection. to
the public is unquestioned: of the interstate
commerce laws; OF the public health laws and
other instances OF federal watchfulness and
supervision, will be interested observers on the
side lines of the clash Of views. &. .5-...t
fCo~vri~hf. fae0 ~ TIA ssk,.vxea saf., 4 =-,s