Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-05
FARMERS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

1t would continue cooperation be-
tween the Federal Government and
the states. The law would be ad-
ministered by the Department OF Ag
riculture as at present, and would
establish a definite ad-construction
| policy. As the two bills now stand
they likely will be referred eventu-
ally to the Townsend Senate Commit
tee on Highways where some compro-
mise between the two bills probably
Will have TO be made in order to pass
one of them.
After more than two years of inter
mittent testimony md discussion of
packer legislation. two bills to con-
troll the packing business and live
stock yards have reached a point
where one is likely to become law.
This bill provides for the regulation
OF the meat packers by the Secretary
| of Agriculture. for uniform system
of accounting and publicity concern
| ing costs and applies the Sherman Act
to the packing industry and commits
sion men.
Two bills which would improve the
Federal Farm Loan System have
shown fair progress and 1t is predict
ed by those who are watching leEis-
lation closely that they will be
passed this session. One bill pro-
vides $4,000. 900 working capital in
the Treasury Department. which the
Federal Farm Loan Board may draw
against pending the sale OF large
block of bonds. The claim was made
that il was impracticablo to keep Fed
eral Farm Loan bonds on the market
continuously and that larger issue
should be sold promptly.
Another bill would enable the Fed
eral Farm Land Banks and the Joint
Stock Land Banks to pay IL per
cent instead OF per cent on their
bonds, which are now tax exempt
Even with this exemption feature
these bonds have sold rather slowly
because of the high rate of interest
paid by foreign governments and by
our own Industrial concerns.
The Farm Bureau with other or
EanizstiTs was successful in con-
vincing the Senate Committee on
Banking and Currency that two bills
introduced by senator Reed Smoot of
Utah. which would have killed the
Federal Farm Loan system including
the Joint stock Land Banks. should
not be reported out of the Committee.
An Export Corporation
The farmers are also following very
closely bill Introduced by Senator
George w. Norris OF Nebraska. which
would provide for siO0,00O.00O for a
Government corporation which would
export agricultural products. The
proponents of this hill had to meet
the argument that this IS class leris-
latiou. one of their replies is that
whatever helps agriculture will hasten
the return of prosperity to the coun-
try. When corn on tho farm in Iowa
is worth only 20 cents per bushel
and sells at the station for 33 cents,
but brings So cents in New York City.
there H. someone besides the farmer
interested in the industry OF agricul-
turc, they say.
Two bills have been introduced to
U.. aNs.NVT TsUFT. NI
livestock production. ono is tho Ster-
ling bill which would make available
100000. 900 during the next three
years to he loaned by the Federal
Farm Loan Banks. These bills. how
ever. will stand little show Of passing
II tho banking interests carry through
the program which they announced
some time ago of lending 350.000.000
to livestock producers in the West.
4 bill which has been the center OF
attraction for some :lrue Is the Tinch--
or bill prohibiting the short selling OF
grain. II has passed the House and
will he reported from the Senate com
mittee in the near future. All of the
farm ORGANIZATIONS have recommended
II before tho COMMITTEES and It also has
tho approval OF tho Secretary ~ Az
ri-ulture. II is being bitterly fought
hN grain dealers.
For several sessions in Congress the
farmers have been very much interest
Cd in passing bill which would make
u necessary for ms nufacturers OF
vsoolens to mark their products 80 that
the consumers would know tho per-
centaEc OF virgin wool which they
carried
II Is claimed by the American Farm
Bureau Federation that tvo.thirds of
tho worlds wooleus are manufactured
of shoddy. FOR only enough VIRGIN
wool is consumed annually to produce
one-third Of the output. II docs not
object to She use Of ehoddy hut II
claims that tho consumer should be
gwen the beiott Of knowing what he
is buying. The Federation also wishes