The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1921-03-17
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER
Nv Parker La Moore

last week Congressman George M
Young stated that Secretary Of Agri'
culture Wallace had decided to oper
a field office in Fargo for the distri-
button of seed loans, as provided in
the agriculture bill. This would be
done some time this week according
to Secretary Wallace. The Fargo Of
fee would handle loans for the states
the tentative plans agreed upon, work
ing through the county agents, as.
sisted by an advisory committee
probably to be chosen from the Farm
Bureau Or the county commissioners.
Application blanks have already
gone to press and will be forwarded to
county agricultural agents without
delay.
Under the seed-loan act loans are
limited to two dollars an acre, with a
maximum of $4,000 to each farmer.
Senator McCumber and Represent
alive Young have been in conference
with the secretary of agriculture for
the past week, urging that every
effort be made to expedite the distri-
button of funds in order that loans
might be made available as soon as
possible.
The loan clause in the bill provides
that the secretary of agriculture shall
be authorized to make advances or
loans to farmers in the drought strick
en- areas of the United States, where
he shall find that special need for such
assistance exists. According to the
general opinion, and judging from the
debate in the house at the time the
matter was discussed, this need is
primarily confined to the states Of
North Dakota and Montana. Secretary
Wallace told Congressman Young,
North Dakota, and Riddick, Of Mon
tana, that the two million dollars
authorized would probably be divided
equally between the states Of North
Dakota and Montana, and it is hoped
by senators and congressman from
these states that this will be done. In
the meantime the agriculture depart
ment is canvasing the situation in
order to ascertain the section of the
country where real need of assist
ance actually exists.
According to figures furnished to
North Dakota senators and congress-
men by M. o. Hall, of Mohall, who
interested himself in the matter, 1888
farmers in North Dakota need assist
ance in purchasing seed grain for the
crop of 1921. This on actual data col
lected by Hall with the cooperation of
county commissioners and state legis-
latures, and others in North Dakota.
Secretary Wallace has stated that
he will do everything in his power to
make the relief funds available as
soon as possible, and, according to a
statement made to Senator McCum-
Der, hopes to have the matter in hand
by April l, or shortly thereafter. If
the Fargo office is opened this week
and application blanks are in the
hands of county agents soon the work
of distribution should proceed without
much friction.
In the closing hour of the sixty
sixth congress Senator J. Themes Hef-
lin, democrat, of Alabama, paid al
glowing tribute to the retiring senator
from North Dakota, A. j. Gronna, and
the work done by the latter in the in
terests of agriculture. Senator Helm
said:
"Mr. President, in few moments
this session of congress will pass into
history. | join in the good wishes that |
have been expressed this morning for
the senator from Colorado, Mr.. Thorn
as, and the senator from Oregon, Mr.. |
Chamberlain, but wish to say word
about a republican senator who is go
ing out of this chamber today.
For many years / was member of
the committee on agriculture in the
House of Representatives The sena-
tor to whom | refer has been chair
man of the committee on agriculture
and forestry of the senate. We have
been drawn together on number of !
occasions in the discussion of matters
pertaining to agriculture.
II want to say for this great and
good senator as he retires from this
chamber that in my service of 1872
man who was a better friend to the
farmers OF the country or who has de-
voted more Of his time and his splen-
did talent to the welfare Of agricul-
ture than has the senator from North
Mr.. Gronna.
whether a measure affected the
farmers OF the north or the farmers OF
the south, he was always enthusiastic
in his support Of it.. NJ good wishes
go with him aid I am sure the good
wishes of the senate will follow him
nto private life back to the state of
North Dakota. In the retirement the
whole agricultural industry of the
United States has lost an able and
faithful friend"
In acknowledging the tribute paid
lis colleague by the Alabama senator
Senator McCumber said in part:
II am more than gratified to have
his tribute paid to my colleague, Mr.. {
5ronna, by member of the other
tide Of the chamber. Senator Gronna !,
Turing his service in the house and in
he senate for all of these years has '
'een most faithful and earnest la !
,orer for the interests of the great {
northwest, of which he was product, $
md which he has most faithfully re- !
Ours is a purely agricul- !
ural state-the entire northwest-the /
ection in part represented by him, is
'urely an agricultural section, and l !.
now of no senator or representative
n congress Of the United States who t
as given more faithful and earnest