Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-27
BURTNESS MAKES STATEMENT TO
VOTERS OF FIRST DISTRICT ON
HIS RECORD AS REPRESENTATIVE
Has Given Active Support To
All Measure. To Aid The
Farmers And To Improve =
Moral And Social Condi-
tions; Calls Attention To
Work OF The Agricultural
Bloc.

0. s. Burtness of Grand Forks,
from the First congress
sional district of North Dakota,
has issued statement 10 the
voters of the district covering his rec
ord during his first term as member
Of the national legislature.
In this statement Mr.. Burtness calls
attention to the work Of the
farm bloc" in the house with which
he has been closely identified. He
points out that although the senate
bloc has been much more extensive
~ advertised the fact is that with one
exception all of the laws which have
been enacted for the relief Of agricul-
ture originated in. and were first
passed by the house.
MIR. Burtness also points out that
he has given hearty support to such
measures as the soldiers compensa-
tion bill. and all legislation intended
to bring about better educational,
moral and social conditions. Il am
he says. that the women
will have no fault to find with my
vote on measures in which they are
interested"
The Statement.
The complete statement follows:
Washington, D. c.. May 26, 1922.
To the Voters of the First Congress
siOnal District: . .
On March 4. 1921. assumed my
duties as your CONGRESSMAN. l. ana
now a candidate for reelection.
In my formal campaign pledge in
1920 l endorsed and urged the en-
actment of certain measures. I have
had opportunity to vote for = number
of them among which may be mem
toned the emergency tariff bill which
ended the importation
of wheat and other agricultural prod
ucts to compete with those produced
on our farms. the budget law, a SOL
eral tariff bill, legislation providing
for the regulation Of grain exchanges,
a new income tax and revenue meas
ure. and law aff1rmatively legalixing
cooperative associations for marke Ct
ing farm prDdaAets and = eRem pting
them from Ethr1 antikrust laws. All
of these measures have been I'm.
provements on existing legislation.
have taken an active part IN get
fected in group and partv conferences
and on the floor of the house. A
glance at my 1920 platform will. de-
termine whether l correctly forecast
ed the important issues and whether
have remained true to my pledges.
Women. Should Be Satisfied.
have given hearty support to all
legislation intended to bring about
better educational moral and social
conditions. I am confident that the
women have no fault to find with my
vote on measures in which they have
special interest. g.
l submit nv record on measures
which / have opposed as we'll as those
ls u. $A -
consistently voted against the appro-
priations of fumes except for the most
urgent necessities l have stood for
the strictest economy consistent, with
the effective administration of govern
mental functions. national honor and
national defense.
House Farm Bloc.
The organization known as the
Farm Bloc" in the senate has been
widely advertised. The Farm Bloc
in the house has not officers and a
publicity bureau but it is proud of the
results it has accomplished. All of
the laws enacted for the relief OF
agriculture, with one single exception.
the house. l have been closely identi-
fled with this group. l believe the
work already performed by it, as we'll
as it's legislative program for the i'm
mediate future. is entitled to the COM
mendation of the people OF the
northwest The American Farm Bu-
|reau Federation has rendered us
splendid assistance and advice. has
gathered valuable information and
has co-operated in getting interested
legislators together into conferences
thus crystallizing sentiment most ef-
fectively.
On the tax question l opposed de-
creasing the taxes of men Of large
wealth and voted for the higher sur
taxes. Due to the efforts of number
of us from the western part OF the
country the higher bracket of surtaxea
and the excess profits tax were retain
ed for 1921. thus preventing an in
! crease of the normal rates upon the
incomes Of individuals and corpora
tions. There should be further inn
provement in our income tax legisla-
| ton SO as to put the burden upon
those best able to bear it in such a
way as to prevent the shifting there
of in increased amounts to the con-
suming public.
- Aided Farmers.
| During the recent agricultural de-
preston gave an exhaustive review
of farm conditions to the AGRICULTURAL
i committee Of the house with my sug-
! gestions for emergency legislation to
relieve the situation. I have devoted
much time in efforts to get the inter
state commerce commission to reduce
freight rates on various farm prod,
ucts. on coal. building material, etc
I not only supported the bill Eivine
the war finance corporation power to
make agricultural loans but I have
also kept in close touch with its work
frequently urging it to function with
more expedition and to waive sosns
of its technical rules 30 as to become
OF more direct benefit to our people
approved. have urged the F'ed4re.
Land Bank system to place more ~
its securities on the market % that 4
! tContinued on paSs =. X