Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-06-09
FARM BLOCIS
NOT BREAKING.
SAYSCAPPER
Report of Split in Group Is
Branded as Base
less.
BIZ SENATOR ARTHUR CAPPER,
Chairman OF tho Senate Agricultural
''Bloc.1

BIZ SENATOR ARTHUR CAPPER.
Chairman OF tho Senate Agricultural
s'Blocs
WASHINGTON. June e.-The report
that the farm bloc Is disintegrating
because Of differences over the tariff Is
without foundation Members of the
bloc are taking an active interest In
the tariff. but the farm bloc" as a body
has no part in the tariff fight.
The fact is the farm bloc Is more ag-
gressive than ever in the fight for a con-
structive agricultural program.
Before the close Of the present SEES
sion of Congress it hopes to see num-
Der of legislative measures to its credit.
The first concrete achievement Of Its
present program was the forcing through
the Senate recently of Senator McEary's
bill extending the operations of the War
Finance Corporation until July /, 1928
with a view to affording the farmers the
financial assistance necessary for the
marketing Of this years crop.
The McNary bill Is first Of several
measures having to do with credit re-
form, designed to restore prosperity to
the country by first stimulating End
making reasonably prosperous the basic
industry of agriculture. Credit reform
comes first In the program Of the farm
bloc because it Is fundamental,
"ABSURDITY
Is APPARENT"
Members of the farm bloc and students
Of farm problems generally decognize
that agriculture is at the mercy Of those
who control credit and many in whom
that control lies are not especially In
sympathy. or not in sympathy at all,
with the aspirations of agriculture. Such
UiS IN N credit
for their own selfish purposes and so at
feet to regard the efforts to provide ade-
quate credit facilities for the farmaIs as
class legislation. The absurdity o. this
Is apparent, when one reflects that all
other business enjoys credit facilities.
suited to its needs, agriculture alone,
wit hits slow turnover, being without a
suitable credit system. Frequent con-
ferences are being held by members OF
the farm bloc with agricultural leaders
In an endeavor to perfect legislation set
ting up a permanent system Of farm
credits.
A first step In this movement Is the
enactment Of the measure providing for
the appointment of a representative OF
agriculture to the Federal Reserve Board.
This bill already has passed the Senate
and has been reported to the House.
in a single respect. by inserting the one
word agriculture" so that when ap-
pointing members Of the Federal reserve
board the President shall have due re-
gard to fair representation Of the DIFF
ferent agricultural, commercial. indus
trial and geographic divisions Of the
country" Such legislation cannot be
properly denominated class legislation.
when the fact is that the law creating
the present Federal reserve system was
class legislation to the extent that 1t
embraced all other classes except the
farmer.
WOULD
EXTEND CREDIT.
4 third effort of the farm bloc Is to
enlarge and extend the activities of the
Farm Loan Board The twelve farm land
banks now have application for loans
amounting to more than $50, 1000 90. pu,
the funds available are wholly made
quate to take care Of the pressing needs
OF the farmers.
Besides this legislation relating to cred
its the farm bloc stands for and Is press
ing for a reduction of freight rates. Thu
present level Of freight rates is sitting
business and must come down.
State railway commissioners must have
restored to them some authority ovel
the rate within the borders Of their OWE
States on freight moving wholly within
the State. This has been taken away
from them by a wholly unwarranted IN
depreciation OF the transportation act
which restored the railroad properties te
their owners. Legislation to effect this
result Is one Of the aims of the farm
bloc.
Completion Of the Muscle Shoals prof.
Get is another aim Of the farm bloc. The
country's fertilizer bill is now a quarter
IT billion dollars annually. This ought
10 be reduced by one-half by completion
If the Muscle Shoals fertilizer and power
plants
The farm bloc also favors the truth
in-fabric bill, which would require man
ufacturers to brand their goods SO thai
buyers will know the amount Of pur,
wool and the amount of shoddy In 1t
This is such an application Of simpi,
honesty in trade that no one ought tt
oppose 1t.
Such measures as these will help thu