The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1921-07-15

lion dollars annually. Prices of
what the farmers sell have been de-
fated by credit manipulation, but
prices of what the farmers buy will
continue to be exorbitant if the
Fordney bill is passed. Clearly, here
is a case where public opinion should
assert itself and every citizen who
objects to being plundered under the
guise of protection" should write
his congressman and emphatica.ly
protest
More Money for Railroads
The Administration has stead
fastly refused to encourage the APP
preparation of any money for agr,-
cultural relief, but Secretary of th-!
Treasury Mellen and Secretary of
Commerce Hoover, with the approval
OF President Harding. have just rec
commended that the government adj
vance the railroads $500. O00.500
within the next six months. The rail-
roads already owe the government
half billion dollars, and they have
received several hundred millions
more under the Esch-Cummins act
guarantees, but apparently Uncle
Sam will continue to dish out money
to them so long as there is anything
left. Those who have studied the
railroad question declare that the
railroads are extravagantly conduc-
| ted, but there is no chance of re
trenchment SO long as railroad Off
Gals know they can get subsidies
from the government at will En-
perts say rate revision Is needed.
and that the railroads should be
centralized and forced to install econ,
omies, but the Administration turns
deaf ear to all proposals of this
nature and continues to hand out
public funds to the carriers with
lavish prodigality.
Grain Gambling Bill Reported
A favorable report on the Cap2er-
Tincher grain gambling bill was ord
cred late last week by the Senate
committee on agriculture. The
measure is designed to eliminate
gambling in grain on boards OF trade
by heavily taxing speculative trans
actions. The committee amended
the bill to prevent concerns operat-
ing private wire systems to towns
outside their "contract markets
from operating. An amendment 10
permit farmers cooperative associa-
tions to becme members of boards of
trade, and to distribute patronage
profits to their members in spite o.
board of trade rules against rebating
was adopted. A commission consist
ing of the Secretary of Agriculture.
Secretary of Commerce and Attorney
General was created to pass on vio-
lations of rules laid down in the bill
for conduct of the grain business.
If the Secretary of Agriculture be-
lieves any person is manipulating
the market, he shall order hearing
in Washington within ten days. The
suspect is denied all privileges of the
market until his case is concluded.
The Capper-Tincher bill really IS
very drastic and, IL impartially all
ministered, would go quite way to-
wards eliminating some of the most
fragrant evils of grain gambling OF
which farmers complain, but it is ex-
tremely likely II it will pass Con-
gress. 1t may pass the Senate, which
now is really more liberal than the
House, but in the later body 1t is
almost certain to be sidetracked in
some packed committee.
STEVENSON Bill Creates Stir
Representative Steenersons bill
which abolishes the arbitrary FEEDER
al grain grades and substitutes SIM
pie, fair and easily understoo1
grades has a good chance to be re-
ported favorably by the Agricultural
committee, but, like the grain gamb-
ling bill, it then will have to run tile
gauntlet between the packed and
hostile Republican steering commit
tee and the committee on rules.
Even after bill is reported favor
ably by a committee it cannot get a
place on the House calendar unless
these two committees agree. These
COMMITTEES are s'hard boiled" The
most reactionary members OF the
House are placed on them and they
usually chloroform legislation that
is inimical to the big interests. Pow
erful interests oppose honest grain
grades and it is very doubtful
whether steenerson's bill can pass,
but 1t was a good measure and he
d0sorvoa rrnHft for vrok;u~ ho ~