The Ward County independent., 1922-02-09

While recognizing the good efforts
Of the War Finance Corporation to
aid the agricultural industry Mr.
Page told the committee that further
credit might be extended to no good
end unless it was assured that the
farmer would be able to operate on a
cost-plus basis during the coming
crop year. Page frankly described
the farmers plight from the view
point of an actual producer, declaring
chat the agricultural industry would
go to the wall unless speedy and suf-
ticient steps be taken by Congress to
give the farmer an adequate return
upon his investment.
Predicting that the cost of pro-
duction for 1922 might be consider
ably below that of the past year Page
said that, given fair yield, the fixed
price might not necessarily be as
high as demanded from various
quarters.
| Congressman James Sinclair, as
author of one of the bills and a men,
ber of the agricultural committee,
was active throughout the discussion,
being of material assistance to the
witness presenting testimony at the
hearing. Other members of the COM
mittee offered rapid back-fire of
questions, demanding consideration
for producers of tobacco and dairy
products, and asserting the rights of
the consumers in the industrial sec
,tions.
Some however evidenced such SYM
pathy with the proposition and Chair
man Haugen appeared to be in favor
Of some legislation that might be pre-
pared which would meet with prob
able approval in the House. Congress-
man Voight of Wisconsin suggested
the possibility Of legislation, similar
to that proposed by Mr.. Burtness, ON
itting the minimum price feature but
letting the government buy the surplus
thus eliminating the local competition.
1t was the consensus of opinion
among the witnesses that the tariff
wall would have to be kept sufficiently
high under a guarantee policy to pre-
vent the importation of grain from
other producing countries.
With the confirmation. of Andrew
Miller Of Bismarck as United States
Judge for the district Of North Dako-
ia the representatives Of the contest
ing factions, drawn to the city by the
long fight upon the nomination, are
departing for home, probably to take
up cudgels for another round in the
scrap to be staged in North Dakota in
June
The action of the Senate in the Mil
ler case was predicted in this column
months ago, and confirmation has
seemed certainty since the 0. K. of
President Harding was placed upon
the McCumber nominee.
In the hearings before the sub
committe on Judiciary Mr.. Miller's
case was badly handled by Ex-senator
Thomas, Of Colo. and the unanimous
opinion of the whole committee re-
garded the charges filed as insufficient
to disqualify the nominee for the
Federal bench. The denial of pleas
for additional time in which to sub
stantiate charges, requested by Sen
ator Gronna, Judge N. c. Young and
Ormsby McHarg, gave occasion for
charges that the committee was being
unfair and it was believed that Mil
ler's opponents would endeavor to
enlist the support of insurgent Re-
publican senators to carry the fight
to the floor of the Senate. This, how
ever, did not materialize and when
John Burke appeared to endorse Mil
ler's confirmation hope of aid from the
Democratic side of the chamber was
at once dispelled for Mr.. Burke has
had the confidence Of his party lead
ers in Washington since his term as