New-York tribune., 1921-03-19
Aiding Farmer
First Problem,
Harding Feels
Cabinet Struggles With Cri4
sis Brought by Stagnant
Market and Dumping of
Foreign Products Here
Embargo Likely Remedy
Loosening of A Agricultural
Credits and, Cutting of
Rail Rates Also Talked
From The Tribune's wasAtnoton Bureau

From The Trtbunc's Wash tHrtoH Buredn
WASHINGTON, March 1S.~--Immedi-
ate relief fer the agricultural situation
is regarded by the new Administration
as the serious need of the day AS a
consequence it is turning virtually it's
whole attention to finding solution.
leaving other important matters to
future consideration.
The Cabinet worked over the prob
lem for more than two hours to-day.
Suggestions from the Secretary of
Agriculture, various Senator's and Rep
resentatives from agricultural states
and others were discussed, but no def
mite program of action was decided on.
It was announced officially at the
White House, however, that some way
will be found in the near future to
help the farmer back to his feet.
Here are the chief trouble makers
for the farmer and livestock grower as
brought before the President:
First-Stagnant markets, due to i'm
portation> of cheaper products from
foreign nations. Wool, frozen meats,
grains, particularly wheat, cotton and
vegetable oils are being dumped into
this country in excessive amounts. The
Administration is looking for way TO
shut these off, either by embargo or
tariff.
Second-High freight rates that eat
up not only all the profits but most
of the capital in the marketing. The
Administration hopes to furnish some
relief from these rates.
Minor Remedies Applied
While the Administration has not
formulated comprehensive program
for action either by the executive de-
partments or Congress, two minor
steps already have been taken which
indicate it's friendly attitude toward
the farmer. They are:
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has suspended for two months
the increased rates on cattle from the
ranges to feeding grounds. The sus-
pension affects the entire Southwest.
The War Department has stopped all
sales of its enormous stores of wool
and intends to withhold them from the
market for the present. Secretary
Weeks indicated that this was done to
help the wool growers rather than to
hold back the government wool Tor
better price. =,
It is not improbable the Administ -
tion. through the Federal Reserve
Bank system, will move to loosen up
agricultural credits. This was sought
repeatedly in the last months of the
Wilson Administration, but without
success. :.
Information supplied to the Presi
,ofC a
getting no benefit in lower prices iron
the rush of foreign agricultural prod
ucts to this country. The only i'm
portant result is that the American
farmers market has been ruined. The
Administration favors the adoption o.
= policy at once which will preserve
our own source of supply. 1t is teareS
at the White House that failure Il
help the farmer out of the rut now ma.
result in such decreased productlo OF
that in the future we may have to de
mend on imports to meet the country
need.
The President, it is understood, con
siders the agricultural problem one. s.
far as legislation is concerned, which
must be disposed of by Congress i'm
mediately. This is taken to mean tha
he does not agree with Western mem
bers of the House who think perma
nent tariff Legislation shoulu pleeeu
tax revision. He seems to want t.
segregate the farm problem and dis
nose of it at once, instead of dragging
it along for months as tariff leglsla
tion will require.
Not for Emergency Bill
While emergency tariff legislatio
was discussed at the Cabinet meetin
as one means of helping the farmer
the Administration g said to be op
posed to trying to pass another bill
such as failed at the last session. TIL
President feels that time would b
wasted, that many commodities othe
than farm products would creep int
the bill through amendment to such a
extent as to defeat its purpose. 1t wa
stated on high authority to-day tbs
the President regrets the failure c
President Wilson to sign the emel
gency tariff, since he believes it woul
have afforded much of the relief ths
Is needed now.
The embargo, it is being predicted
will be employed to shut off foreig
products that are hurting the farmer
Senator Smoot, of Utah, has propose
= law putting an embargo on wool i
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