The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-11-11
FARMERS PAYING
FEDERAL LOANS
Many Are Paying Up While Other w,
Be Prosecuted for Fraudulent Use
of Funds Borrowed.

Reports received at Glasgow from
Federal Inspectors engaged in hand
ling matters affecting the Government
Seed loan indicate that farmers are
coming through and settling their OBJ
legations with the Government in first
class fashion. While number of
loans still remain unpaid it is ex-
pected that payment will be forthcom-
ing in the very near future. Investi-
cations are under way to determine
the financial ability Of farmers who
have not taken up their loans and
those found to have sufficient crop
will be asked to make immediate set
tlement. 1t is very evident that the
Government means business and that
appropriate actions will be taken if
necessary. Instances have been un-
earthed where farmers failed to put
in a crop with the money which they
borrowed from the Government and
where farmers spent part of their loan
and put in a much smaller crop than
they agreed to plant. Instances also
have been brought to light where farm
ers had seed wheat at the time when
they obtained their loan and were able
to put in crop without Federal as
sistance although they declared other
wise in their applications. In addition
to these number Of cases have been
found where farmers made false re-
turns of their yield. A few instances
have been dug up where checks have
been tampered with in such a manner
as to deprive the government of it's
property therein. All such cases as
those mentioned above are being SER
iously investigated and appropriate ac-
tion will no doubt result Farmers
who swear to the crop yield of their
neighbors on applications for extern
sion are asked to use utmost care in
seeing that the number Of acres sown
and that the number of. bushels har-
vested are correctly stated as criminal
action will undoubtedly result in all
cases where evidence of conspiracy to
misrepresent the facts is shown. Far
mers are also cautioned that proceeds
derived from the sale of grain mort
gagged to the Government are trust
funds belonging to the Government
and cannot be diverted or used until
the loan is paid. Numerous checks
have been issued by the elevators in
which the United States has been
named as payee and farmers are eau
tioHed not to allow these checks to
leave their possession. A complete
list of the checks will be furnished by
the elevators and then the farmers
will be called upon to account for
them. Although the Government reg
ulations will not permit the extension
of loan where the yield was in ex-
cess Of five bushels to the acre, num-
erous requests for extensions have
been received where the yield was
greatly in excess of five bushels. Such
requests have come from farmers who
for various reasons find themselves
financially burdened and who desire to
pay off some of the debts which have
been hanging over their heads for
number of years. The Government
feels, however, that as it made it pos
sible for these farmers to get a crop
this year, that the Federal seed loan
should be paid out first. Moreover it
is pointed out that to make an excep-
tion for one farmer would justify MAX
ing an exception for all and that the
Government might just as well not try
to collect at all. 1t is safe to say
that the rule will be strictly followed
and the money will be collected in all
cases where the borrower has suffi-
cient crop top az his loan.