Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-08
Organization System in U. S.
Congress Injurious Declares
Secretary Weeks in Address

poses which were not needed and
which were not for the general good.
THE slightest examination in the
Increase of governmental expenditures
during the last Is years for the ordi-
nary requirements of the movement
will indicate to what extent this
change in methods OF legislating has
affected the treasury.
Secs Weakening Effect.
T. my mind the change has had
a tendency to weaken effective gov
eminent, has resulted in irresponsible
legislation, prevented both parties
from carrying out pledges made in
their platforms and, in time will di-
! vide the legislative branch of the gov
eminent into groups each group
championing a special cause, and we
| will see one group combining with
another to bring about a control Of
legislative action in the interest of a
particular faction.
while we may not degenerate to the
level of some countries, in this re-
spect, carried to its logical conclusion.
| we may eventually find ourselves d.
vided into hostile factions or groups.
n class ~plundered by another and
the country powcrless to defend or
maintain its interest. national or in
ternational.'
Not only the United States but the
whole world us slowly but surely re-
war declared. This country is
emerging from a condition OF chaos.
after passing through a period of
mental and physical adjustment as a
logical resultant OF HI war.
'The great need for the present
emergency is clear thinking Mr..
on facts. not fancies; putting our
faith in work instead Of words; re-
lying on accomplishments, not prom
ises, and not mistaking license for
! liberty"
I'VE do not hear OF strikes in Ger
many the secretary remarked, but
they seem rather popular everywhere
, else. The ~selfishness which comes
from the desire to get something at
the expense Of ones fellow man is
having a potent influence in prevent
ing the restoration the county needs.
Agricultural Loans.
1.-The farmer-the backbone Of the
country'-was the first to feel the
affects Of post war defation, the secre-
tary said, but added that the farmer
cannot be entirely absolved from
blame" for his present situation as he
should nav foreseen h inevitable
collapse of values.
1T did not please him." a Mr.
! Weeks. Ito find that combinations Of
labor or. that combinations OF any
thing else were able to keep up. the
prices Of his necessities and ne turned
ton which would give him a chance
to adjust his situation.
II shall not take the time to
criticize the legislation congress has
enacted for the benefit of the farmer.
It was brought about by a combina-
ton of members Of the two great
political parties which a sufficient
votes to obtain the result desired.
Some OF this legislation may beneft
those for whom it was enacted. Much
of it is unsound, however, from an
economical standpoint, n I very
much doubt if 1t will be Of any benefit
even to the farmer.
"One of the least excueable Of the
laws passed, 1t seems to me, was that
increasing the interest rate on farm
loan bank bonds to 5 1-2 per Q and
leaving the rate to the farm borrower
tho same as 1t had BEEN. Under the
present law. as I see 1t, the govern
ment Is financing the farmer and Is
producing a a g volume Of nom
taxable securities, so that in effect. the
farmer is borrowing his money at a
much lower rate than the current
market warrants. What would be
said, as an Offset, If the government
uNUoEICOk 10 luudUCc dill lIe IuduulaC-
turing Industries of the United States
by loaning them none at a fixed rate
and no taxes were paid on this in
d~ebtedness, and then extending that
policy to complete transferral Of the
investments of large estates into nom
taxable securities"
Mr.. Weeks then reviewed Il
further legislative program" Of the
agricultural bloc, charactertzing as
'unwise" the so-called pure wool bill,
declaring that the proposed law to
regulate cold storage would make the
price of many articles of food higher
and describing the federal highway
bill as being designed to construct
roads purely local in character" for
the benefit Of one or at best a few
individuals"
The demand of the bloc for a rep
resentative Of agriculture on the
federal reserve board. Mr.. Weeks said,
was as worthy as would be similar
demands from manufacturers, labor,
commerce or any single great in
dustry."
The revenue law recently enacted,
the speaker said, was drawn in con-
formance with a specific party plat