Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-14
BLOC LEADERS :
STAGE FIGHTTO
KELPFARMERS
Say Freight Rates Must Go
Down to Bring Re-.
lief.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Gag
ricultural bloc is staging a big fight in
Congress for a reduction and readjust-
ment Of freight rates on farm products.
Senator's Capper OF Kansas and Ne
Nary Of Oregon are among the bloc
leaders. who are insisting that freight
rates must come down before the asri-
cultural interests can be given and per-
manent relief from the economic distress
from which they are suffering.
Freight rates are running the farmers,
according to Senator La Toilette, an
other Republican member Of the "bloc."
He cited is an example recent estimate
that the freight rates involved in farm
wagon purchase Mt Barorn, Wis, in 1914
were s174G. The Esch- Cummins law has
forced this up 10 $s9.j4, he said
Representative Moore of Virginia, had
another instance Of exorbltant freight
rates called to his attention by a farmer
who raises registered Ilolsteins at
Orange Va, only about seventy-hy
miles from the national capital. He
Skinned a milk fed calf to Washington,
1t cost him SO worth Of milk to raise the
calf. for which he was paid by com
mission merchant at the rate of cents
a pound. or S119J. out of this he had
to nay co cents commission; freight,
SOS: express charges, $lj4. When he
finished he found himself in pocket ex-
actly S1.23.
BUSINESS
CASNOT IMPROVE.
"Business conditions cannot Improve
until the farmers can sell their prod
ucts at a profit" said Senator Harris OF
Georgia, Democratic member OF the
bloc" "Those who criticise the 'agri-
cultural bloc for trying to aid the farm
ers are usually ready to support any
legislation suggested to help the rail
roads. | have no prejudice against the
railroads The co .try's prosperity de-
ponds upon then. They should be en-
outraged. but thcy should not be helped
at the expense Of the farmers, as was
done when Congress passed the Esch-
Cummins law and thereby authorized
rates guaranteeing the railroads 6 per
cent dividends when farmers and business
men were losing money. l voted against
that bill.
THE Agricultural bloc is not seek
ing to discriminate against the railroads
or any other interests. We have banded
together, not to get legislative favors.
Tut legislative justice Western and
Middle Western Republicans have united
with Southern Democrats TO see that the
farmers of the West, Middle West and
South are afforded relief from condi-
lions which have resulted from their be-
ing Disseminated against for the bene-
fit of the East.
CHARGES GROSS
DISCRIMINATION.
'When cotton. the principal product OF
the South, is, for example shipped to
Liverpool and other European ports VIA
New York, freight is charged for every
mile along the route to the port ard over
seas | hope we may soon succeed in pre-
venting this gross discrimination il
ocean freight rates from the South. y
is Just as important to the Southern rot
ton producer to get cheap ocean freight
rates as it is for the Eastern manufac-
turer.
THE South and West have stood sucn
determinations for half century. You
can draw line from Baltimore to San
Francisco South, of that line is half OF
this great country, and yet there Is not
a representative from that entire section
on the Interstate Commerce Commission,
which fixes rates on all rail transporta-
ton. Some time ago l called this to the
attention of President Harding and urged
thar at least one representative of the
Southeast should be a member OF the
Commission. / shall keep the matter be-
fore him, and 1 am hopeful that when a
vacancy occurs our section may receive
the representation and recognition to
which it is entitled outside of any party
considerations.
1.-The agricultural bloc forced the
passage by the Senate of the bill to pu.
a dirt farmer on the Federal Reserve
Board. The bill is still pending in the
House. We believe that dirt farmer
ought to be also on the Interstate Com
merce Commission. The agricultural in
terests are entitled to have a, voice in
both"