Morris tribune., 1920-06-25
4 WHEAT GRADES WILL
NOT BE CHANGED
To Lower Present Standards Would
Reduce Farmers Returns,
Meredith Says

dith, Secretary of Agriculture,
made public following hearings re-
Gently held in Washington and Chi
cago at which the Secretary pre-
sided. The hearings were the result
of representations made to the Secre-
tary that dissatisfaction existed in
the Central Northwest with the
present Federal wheat grades for
Hard Red Spring and durum wheats.
At the first hearing in Washington
some producers from certain sections
urged that changes be made to take
effect at the beginning of the COM
ing crop year, involving a distinct
lowering of the standards for Hard
Spring and durum wheats. At this
first hearing delegation from the
Central Northwest presented it's
views; at the second hearing in
Washington a delegation of grain
dealers and representatives of grain
trade organizations from Texas,
Oklahoma, and Illinois we're heard;
and at the third hearing, held at
Chicago, representatives of producers,
the grain trade and millers discussed
the proposed changes. All interests
concerned in production marketing,
and handling we're heard on the pro-
pOsals.
WOULD REDUCE FARMERS
RETURNS
"The request made by the Central
Northwest delegation for a general
lowering of the present standards
for Hard Red Spring Wheat and
durum wheat" says Secretary Mere
dith, in announcing his decision,
"was made apparently on the theory
that, under the standards they pro-
posed, the producer would receive
more money for his wheat. The ar
guments made in support of this
theory we're not convincing and were
not supported by evidence. On the
other hand, the testimony seemed to
prove that, under free and open COM
petitive marketing conditions, the
lowering of the present standards
would tend to reduce the return to
the farmer The departments stu
dies of grain marketing support the
latter view"
The exceptional facilities which
the department has for study of
the question of wheat grades are set
forth by the Secretary, who explains
that for more than 10 years the
Department of Agriculture has been
gathering samples of wheat in every
part of the country in which wheat
is produced or marketed, during all
stages of the harvesting, marketing,
and utilization of wheat, and in
every season. All the grading STAN
dards established and used for many
years by State and trade Organiza-
lions have been collected and care
fully studied. Records have been
kept of grades assigned by COM
mercial inspection organizations, and
the samples collected by the depart
ment have been analysed and the
information derived from such in
vestigations recorded in detail, tab
ulated, preserved, and compared with
data obtained from outside sources.
No other single organization has
any such collection of data"
OPPOSITION AGAINST CHANGES
In announcing his decision, which
has been published in pamphlet form
for free distribution, the Secretary
takes up the various recommended
lions in detail, in each case giving
his reasons for adhGring to the
present standards and pointing out
that his conclusions have been
reached only after study of records
on the subject which undoubtedly
are more complete than those pos
sessed by any other organization.
He states also that at the second and
third hearings overwhelming OppOsi-
ton was manifested against any
changes in wheat standards for the
coming crop.
''At the second hearing at Wash
ington and at the hearing at Chi
cago on April 2, 1920" the state
ment continues, great opposition
was voiced against any change this
year in the standards for wheat now
in force. After the announcement
of the public hearing held in Chicago
many letters and kilograms from
farmers organizations, State officials,
grain dealers, and millers' organiza-
lions in different sections of the
country were received opposing
change in the standards; in fact,
many of these expressed the desire
for even higher standards, thereby
making higher requirements for the
better grades of wheat
"The Federal wheat standards
were established and promulgated in
1918. They have been operative
only under fixed price and war con-
ditions and consequently opportunity
for fair test of their merits or de-
fects has not been afforded under
normal marketing conditions. It is
believed that any injustice to pro-
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