South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-19
AGRIC BLOC NOW
LEADS FIGHT TO
CUT RAIL RATES
Leaders Take Stand That
Freight Charges Must Go
Down to Relieve L. :.

ft 4h1fi NY AI4Nr AldItI I"--- ttt
Agricultural Bloc is staging a big
fight in congress for a reduction and
readjustment Of freight rates on
farm products.
Sens Capper. Of Kansas, and Nc
Nary. of Oregon. are among the
Bloc leaders, who are insisting
that freight rates must come down
before the agricultural interests can
De given any permanent relief from
the economic distress from which
they are suffering.
Freight rates are running the
farmers. according to Sen. LaFol-
lette. another republican member OF
the Bloc" He cited as an example
q recent estimate that the freight
rates involved in a farm wagon pur-
chase at Barron, Wis. in 1914 were
Sl7.46. The sch-Cummins law has
forced this up to $S9.64. ne said.
Rep. Moore, Of Virginia. had an
other instance of exorbitant freight
rates called to his attention by a
farmer who raises registered Hol-
stems at Orange, Va, only about IS
miles from the national capital He
shipped a milkfed calf 10 Washing
ton. tt cost him $50 worth OF milk
10 raise the calf. for which he was
paid by a commission merchant at
the rate Of five cents a pound or
S11.95. out of this he had to pay
60 cents commission; freight S5.58;
express charges. 1854 When he
finished he found himself "in peck
CT" exactly $1.23.
Business Cannot Improve"
Business conditions cannot inn
prove until the farmers can sell
their products at a profit" said
Sen. Harris. of Georgia a democratic
member OF the bloc" Those who
criticize the Agricultural Bloc for
trying 10 aid the farmers are usually
ready 10 support any legislation sug-
gested 20 help the railroads. I have
no prejudice against the railroads.
The country's prosperity depends up
on them. They should be encour-
aged. but they 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 six
percent dividends when farmers and
business men were losing money. I
voted against that bill.
"The Agricultural Bloc IS not
seeking to discriminate against the
railroads or any other interests. We
have banded together. not TO get
legislative favors. but legislative
justice Western and Middle-V West
ern republicans have united with
Southern democrats to see that the
farmers Of the West. Middle West
and South are afforded relief from
conditions which have resulted
from their being Disseminated
against for the benefit of the East.
Gross Discrimination"
when cotton the principal prod.
net of the South, is. for example
shipped to Liverpool and other Eu-
ropean ports via New York, freight
is charged for every mile along the
route TO the port and overseas. I
hope we may soon succeed I'm pre-
venting this gross discrimination in
ocean freight rates from the South.
10 is just as important 20 the South.
ern cotton producer TO get cheap
ocean freight rates as IL is for the
Eastern manufacturer
THE South and West have stood
such determinations for half a cen
fury. You can draw a line from Bal
t5more 20 san Francisco south Of
that line is half OF this great coun-
try. and yet there is not a represent
tative from that entire section on
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. which fixes rates ON all rail
transportation, Some time ago
called this TO the attention OF Pres
Harding and urged that az least one
representative of tho Southeast
should be a member of the COM
mission shall keep the matter
before him. and I am hopeful that
when vacancy occurs our section
may receive the representation and
recognition TO which IL IS entitled
outside Of any party considerations.
1.-The Agricultural Bloc forced
the passage by the senate of the bill
20 pun q dirt farmer on the Fed
-rll Reserve Board The bill is still
pending be- the house. We believe
that dirt farmer ought 20 be also
ON the Interstate Commerce COM
mission The agricultural interests
are entitled 10 have "a voice in both"