The Washington herald., 1921-05-23
GRAIN men OPPOSE
CONTROL MEASURE
NOW CONGRESS
Interference by Govern
ment Regarded by Ele-
ment as Ruinous.
WOULD SHIFT POWER
Think Laws to Control Ex-
changes and Packing Plants
Are Too Drastic.
Especial Cerrespondsnce Of Ths Washinsson
Herald and Now York Evening foet.)

Especial cerrespondence Of The washington
Herald and New York Evening P'st.'
CHICAGO. May %. = Control OF
the grain, live stock, and packing
Industries of the United States Will
center in the hands of the secre-
tary of agriculture, should the oiiis
before congress pass in their pres
ent form. These will give him
power to make regulations govern
ing operations. particularly In the
grain and packing industries ana
grain exchanges will have very lit
tie to say. A clause in the Tincher
bill, section s, article e. says that
the rules of the grain exchanges
are to be subject to the approvai
Of the secretary of agriculture. A
former official of the Chicago board
OF trade, discussing the situation
says: IF the senate passes the
Tincher bill in its present shape,
the exchanges of the country viii
be nothing but a rubber stamp for
the secretary of agriculture"
Keep Government Out Of Business.
1t is the desire of the secretary
of agriculture to control the mar
ket machinery as we'll as to supply
crop and other statistics to pro-
ducers and all interested in the
grain trade. There is no industry in
the country in which the informa-
tion is so generally sought as that
regarding the grain crops, sup
plies. market conditions, and prices.
Practically all lines of business are
dependent upon 1t, but grain men
strenuously object to the govern
ment's going further and taking
control of the marketing industry.
This is held to be contrary to the
views of President Harding as ex-
pressed during his campaign, as he
argued in favor of getting the gov
ernment out OF business, while the
proposed measures will put II into
business to a greater extent than
ever, even under the operations of
the food administration during the
war. the grain interest was ham
died during the food administra-
mons existence by most of the old
est and most experienced men in
the trade. To be continually die
tated to by the secretary of agricui-
hHA "H' 10 hot SuppoStu 10 nave
actual and extensive marketing ex-
perience. would be a different propo.
sition. the grain dealers say.
1t Is well known by leaders in the
grain trade that the secretary OF
agriculture is favorable to the op-
erations OF the various farmers or
ganizations, and particularly to
those of the United States Grain
Growers. Inc. which is seeking con-
troll of the grain trade of the coun-
try through its backing by tn.
farmers organizations. The plans
of the grain growers company are
understood to contemplate forms
tion Of companies or organizations
to handle the interior elevators, and
possibly mills, terminal elevators.
an export company. and other or
eanizations IL necessary, including
banks. There are. 100000 farmers
in the organization. An assessment
Of $40 per head would give SIS. .000,-
900. II is proposed to use the fed
eral reserve banks to finance the va
rious corporations through the sale
of warehouse receipts, as il is
planned to arrange for making inte-
rior warehouse receipts readily ne
gotiable. the same as in terminal
markets.