The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-21
c. O.P. TAKES RAP
AT FARMERS; PARE
AGRICULTURAL BILL
Pruning of Sum for Crop EStl-
mates, Markets and Other
Work Is Characterized as
Republican False Economy.

WASHINGTON. Feb q. (Spl)--The
house of representatives has succeeded
in passing the agricultural bin calling
for appropriations totaling S30,0s5,O0o
Following their newly announced poll
cy of economy" the Republican lead
ers pared the total asked by the depart
ment or agriculture by something over
$J,OOO0O0, but, the Democrats aver, at
the cost of efficiency. The loss to the
farmers because of greatly decreased
efficiency will amount to a much great
er sum, II is asserted.
OF the $40, 900, 600 appropriated for
agricultural matters about $40. 900, 900
Is devoted to maintenance of the for
estry. service, enforcing the pure food
and drug act and providing for govern
mental meat inspection. Representa-
tlves from agricultural states maintain
these appropriations have no place In
this bill and curtaii needed appropria-
lions for purely agricultural purposes
The bureau Of crop estimates lis
pointed out as an instance OF false
economy on the part Of the Republican
leaders In the house. The department
Of agriculture asked $4,000 for this
Item, but the house committee reduced
this to $l93, 900, which Is claimed 10 be
an inadequate sum for the furthering
Of d work vi great importance to tbs
| farmers, There IL a general demand
for sound, unbiased government esti-
| mates as to crop yields and prospects
| Grain exchanges and grain commission
firms have compiled crop estimates for
many years. but they are not regarded
| as accurate except from the specu-
lattve standpoint, and from the point
OF view OF commission firms their fig
ures naturally are to guide their indi-
Vidual purchases and sales. The de-
partment of agriculture has been per-
fhWNUN 49,. Il
| ally and DOW when the efforts are at
tanning success the work Is seriously
handicapped, II Is said, by this curtail-
| ment of funds.
The bureau OF markets was another
| item that lost heavily when pruned by
the Republican economists. They
| eliminated 100000 from this phase oil
agricultural work. although ii is esti-
| mated this bureau has saved the farm
| ers incalculable sums by affording them
! the opportunity for easy and rapid dis.
| position of their food products. Be.
| cause of this the consumers also have
saved millions, being enabled to buy
| food products at much lower prices.
The cutting Of the appropriation in.
volyng the use of the government for.
| mula for a serum for the prevention oil
hog cholera, is another point OF dubiou.
| economy, in the minds of many in tn,
house. This serum, testimony indi
| NdNCSt has uftil Ntiy SuNGtSSIul MS 4
preventative Of hog cholera. The gov.
| eminent permits various firms and com,
panies to manufacture the serum under
| a rigid inspection. At the same tint
the department of agriculture ha,
maintained a force Of experts to no
only teach the hog raisers the value O
the serum, but also its application
The eliminating of 5000. 600 from thi
particular item means that the numbe
of missionary experts must be cut dow
| TO total inadequate for the handlini
of the immense territory involved. Alst
the force of inspectors, whose business
ii is to see that those manufacturer,
the serum do not produce an inferio
product, must be cut down. This ma,
affect the quality of the product, ant
consequently the hog production.
More than 10000 farmers Craze thel
live stock on the forest reserves o
America, and this privilege Is invalu
able to those residing in the semi
arid sections. The price OF grazlnt
permits was raised once in the las
six years, but now that the Repubi
cans incorporated provision for 30
per cent increase in the agriculture
bill, a tremendous protest is axpectet
from the far West when the bill come
before the senate. No hearings wer
granted on this Increase and the stoc
growers of Colorado, Wyoming. Idaho
Montana New Mexico, Arizona, Utah
California, etc, knew nothing of ii un
til the proposal in the committee room