Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-01
Pig Census Is
Started Today
Mail Carriers to Canvass Entire
Country-United States Does
Not Want Debts Cancelled.
CBy Isaac Gregg

Washington, Nov. 1.-The Posto1-
fee Department began taking j pig
census today. A complete census OF
brood SOW and pig production VIII De
made last spring through the carriers
every state of the Union.
Five hundred thousand question
naires have been printed by the De-
partment Of Agriculture. The cards
are being sent to postmasters where
they will be distributed among the
carriers. Each carrier IS asked to get
ten or twelve farmers to supply me
required information, being caretui
TO avoid a special selection OF the
farms to be reported so that the re-
turns viii be typical.
The census taken last May was the
subject of highly commendatory
letter from Secretary Wallace IN
which he complimented the PostmaS-
ter General on the work of the car
riers in that instance for the accn-
racy and value of the information OBJ
tanned.
Attempts to obtain similar coop
Grafton between the two departments
in previous administrations, Secre-
.tary Wallace said, were not success
full and Agricultural officials were
highly Skeptical about the ADVISABLE
ity of trying another pig census:
~ am all the more gratitied, nc
said in a letter to the Postmaster
General, "at the result of the survey
ade last spring through the carriers
They handled 1t in perfectly spIen-
did way and | am sure that they VIII
take hold of the survey this fall ID
similar fashion"
Postmasters are being advised that
the report on brood sows and pig
production, which viii be based upon
the returns sent in, is considered OF
great Importance to the farmers Of
the country and that the Postotflce
Department is very anxious TO 90 It's
part to make the report possible.
Ii was explained at the postofflce
Department today that some farmers
have an erroneous idea that the IN
formation may be used by the pack
ers to their detriment. Packers, COM
mission men and others who deal in
crops and live stock have very ex>
tensive organizations of their own
and il is obvious that such informa-
ton is Just as important to them as
il is to those who deal in farm pro-
ducts.
One of the functions of the govern
ment. the farmers are advised, is IT,
gather and publish those necessary
statistics, in order that the producers
NAV have some knowledge of what
is going on in the way Of production
and thus be able to adjust their pro-
duction to the probable needs of the
market.
This government does not take
kindly to the suggestions emanatng
from some Of the foreign powers in
debted to the United States for
money borrowed during the World
War that such debts should be can
celled. This statement has been
made at the White House after the
President and his official advisers
have gone over the matter.
While it is asserted in this connec-
ton that the American members OF
the Debt Funding Commission and
other officials of the government have
not discovered any way whereby the
nearly ten billions of dollars to the
limited States from European ma
tions can be collected the entire
question is regarded as one for nego-
tiations with these powers.
The government, it was declared,
might resort to force Of arms againSs
those countries who cannot pay what
they owe US, but it is not even limited
for a moment that such drastic steps
are contemplated. On the contrary,
it is said that the United States will
be lenient in dealing with its credi-
tors although it does not propose to
counteannce any suggestion for the
cancellation of foreign debts. They
are regarded as obligations made be-
tween nations to be met when cOndi-
tions permit, it was stated with much
emphasis.
Nobody knows what is to be done
at the present time, and no solutions
of the problem has been found. There
is only one thing settled in the minds
of public officials and that is that the
money must be forthcoming at some
time or another, and it will not do
| for European nations or for citizens
of the United States to attempt to
waive the indebtedness incurred. Our
own people were taxed and taxed al
they could bear during the World
War and it is only just that those
nations who asked for our financial
assistance should be willing to make
repayment at some future date.