Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-06

guarantee that competition between
districts be unlimited, distribution,
storage. n continuity ought to be
improved.
The supply of coal must be con-
slant. In case of its prospective in
corruption, the President should
have authority to appoint a commits
! sion empowered to deal with what |
ever emergency situation might arise,
to aid Cancellation and voluntary |
arbitration, to adjust any existing
or threatened controversy between |
the employer and the employe when
! collective bargaining fails, n by
controlling distribution to prevent
profiteering in this vital necessity.
J This legislation is exceedingly urgent
and essential to the exercise of ma
tional authority for the protection
! of the people. Those who undertake
the responsibility of management or
employment in this industry do so
with the full knowledge hat the
public interest is paramount, and
that to fail through any motive of
! selfishness in its service is such a
betrayal Of duty as warrants uncom-
promising action by the government.
Reorganization
A special joint committee has
been appointed to work out a plan
for a reorganization of the different
departments and bureaus of the gov
| eminent more scientific and econ
omical than the present system.
With the exception of the consolida-
ton of the war and navy depart
ments and some minor details, the
plan has the general sanction of the
President and the cabinet. 1t is i'm
portant hal reorganization be en-
acted into Law at the present session.
Agriculture
Aided by the sound principles
adopted by the government, the bust
ness of the country has had an eX-
tr|aordinary revival. Looked at as a
whole, the Nation is in the enjoy
ment of remarkable prosperity. In
dustry and commerce are thriving.
For the most part agriculture is ue-
cessful eleven staples having risen in
value from about $500, 600, 600 two
years ago to about 1000, 900 900
for the current year. But range
cattle are still low in price and
some sections of the wheat area,
notably, Minnesota, North Dakota,
and on west, have many cases of
actual distress. With his products
not selling on a parity with the pro-
ducts of industry, every sound rem
w. iAAI a ~ ~ A110 1AAttAo ~
applied for the relief of the farmer.
He represents a character, a type
of citizenship and n public necessity
hat must be preserved and afforded
every facility for regaining pros
perity.
The distress is most acute among
those wholly dependent upon one
crop. Wheat acreage was greatly
expanded and has not yet been suf-
GoianfIv raHtnnd 10 tyn a -1n11nf 10
raised for export, which has to meet
the competition in the world market
of large amounts raised on land
much cheaper and much more pro-
ductive.
No complicated scheme of relief,
no plan for government fixing of
prices, no resort to the public treas
ury will be of any permanent value
in establishing agriculture. Simple
and direct methods put into opera
ton by the farmer himself are the
only real sources for restoration.
IndireYtly the farmer must be
relieved by a reduction of national
and local taxation. He must be as
sisted by the reorganization of the
freigEt-rate structure which could
reduce charges on his production.
To make this fully effective there
ought to be railroad consultations.
Slltd per lt1A 4lAHtio ~ bG BlOf AiNaH
He must have organization. His
customer with whom he exchanges
products of the farm for those of
industry is organized. labor is or
ganized, business is organized, and
there is no way for agriculture to
meet this unless 1t. too, is organized.
The acreage OF wheat is too large.
Unless we can meet the world mar
ket at a profit, we must stop raising
f1, oynar+ n,.nyo =, iyatinn yrn,1J haID
to reduce acreage. Systems of CO.
operative marketing created by the
farmers themselves, supervised by
competent management, without
doubt would be of assistance, but
they can not wholly solve the prob
lem. our agricultural schools ought
to have thorough courses in the the
DRY of organization and cooperative
marketing.
Diversification is necessary. Those
farmers who raise their living on
their land are not greatly in dis
tress. such loans as are wisely
needed to assist buying stock and
other materials to start in this direc-
ton should be financed through a
government agency as a temporary
and emergency eXpedient.
The remaining difficulty is the dis
position of ~eXportable wheat. / do
iOI LdNoI lle pei lildHtul lnlcIltI-
ence of the government in this prob
lem. That probably would increase
the trouble by increasing produc-
ton. But it seems feasible to pro-
vide government assistance to ex-
ports and authority should be given
the war finance corporation to grant
in its discretion the most liberal
terms Of payment for fats and grains
exported for the direct benefit of the
farm.
Muscle Shoals
The government is undertaking to
develop a great water-poWer project
known as Muscle Shoals on which it
has expended many million dollars.
The work is still going on. Subject
to the right to retake In time of
war 1 recommend hat this property
with a location for auxiliary steam
plant and rights of way be sold. This
would end the present burden of eX-
pen@e n should return to the treas
ury the largest price possible to Sc
cure.
While the price is an important
element, there is another considera-
ton even more compelling. The
agriculture of the nation needs a
greater supply and lower cost Of
fertilizer. This is now imported in
large quantities. The best informa-
ton / can cur indicates that pres
ent methods of power production
would not be able probably to meet
the price at which these imports can
be sold. To obtain a supply from
this water power would require long