The Washington herald., 1921-01-18
Farm Markets.

unusual interest 1t seems also to more than
ordinarily impress the members of the committee.
Mr.. Barnes supported by his two years of
experience as head of the United States Grain Cor
poration, we'll as by his many years a buyer
and exporter of grain
But the value of his testimony was not in what
he said to uphold the present system Of trading in
grain. Rather it in the two constructive sug-
gestons he made remedies for the occasional
abuses OF the grain trading machinery and for
broader financial and credit basis for the farmer
IN individual producer.
Mr.. Barnes strongly urged the establishment of
= Federal market commission Of experts who would
study not only the system of grain marketing but
the marketing OF all farm products, WOOL cotton
and semiperishables.
He would have this commission find the pres
INT faults the lack Of facilities the lack OF freedom
pf choice, the bars to individual freedom of judg
ment and the want of directness or simplicity in
the entire range of farm marketing.
He would have it remedy these faults, so far
rs possible, by mutual agreement with the buyers
and sellers. Where this could not be done by ne
goGation, he would have laws suggested, based
upon known facts for ways that would do
good than harm.
He in the measures before the committee
What would make two faults grow where only one
grew before. Subject to a rotation of questions
framed and pushed by the honest conviction of the
Congressman, he replied from his personal expc-
renee in way, which if it did not convince, at
east made evident impression that there a
decided element of doubt as to what was proposed.
The committee realized seemingly, that there
times and places where panacea may be but
Infection with something worse than what it
aimed to Mr. Barnes pressed his commission
suggestion not a cure-all, but as a practical
far iS hrir1a md
progressively remedial.
His second suggestion which might be put in
immediate operation through the power of Congress
over interstate commerce, he believed, from his
Derience with the Grain Corporation, could be bet
Ter accomplished through personal agreement
AS fact it is now in operation in Minnesota.
This is that every local elevator should give to a
,armer, if asked, elevator receipt certificate
'howing the quantity of grain received and its
grade.
This the farmer could use as basis of credit
With his local merchants banks, or with any
Sank, as admittedly there is no better commercial
PAPER. The elevator man must, however, have the
light to forward this grain to a terminal, making
he certificate not the identical grain but
grain of the same quantity and quality.
Mr.. Barnes maintained that it was not fair to
compel farmer anywhere at any time to sell his
:rain at price at grade fixed for him by
my particular buyer. He declared that the farmer
lhoyld be left his own right of judgment to when
le would sell and at what price.
If not satisfied with the local grade, he could
Iso have the right Of appeal to some impartial
aate or Federal agency. In short, the limit Of
reedor1 should be assured him as to the disposal
If his own property the result of his industry.
If this the fact to all fam prod
tets, II would in great measure answer the present
,roblem of farmer credits. Farmers would not have
o hold their grain, wool, cotton and meat animals
n the farm, their semperishables. Instead
hey could turn them into the channels of trade
nd merely hold pieces Of paper as evidence of
,nreleascd possession
This would have price effect when the
,roducts were in the general current in bulk but
roe sold than when held anywhere else, as on the
arm, in the same bulk and unsold The difference
you'd be that the farmer, instead of holding the
,ul' iodUct subject to ,6re, deteioratlon shrink
lge or other loss, would have the best known ne
!otiable security
instead Of being limited to narrow credit
ield as the possessor of certain property known
I at ALL as its quantity an4 quality only locally
security demanding the lowest commercial inter
81 rate.
Today the farmer has his grain, wool, cotton,
attle or other produce. His need is credit. Mr..
arnes suggests plan that without sacrificing this
roperty at time of emergency, would provide
he credit
Such Federal commission devoted wholly to
ne marketing problems OF the producer with such
credit resource maintaining his right of individual
alignment would seem to go far toward answering
u that is sought to be secured by measures which
sv prove penny relief at pound expense.
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