The Washington times., 1923-12-22
EXPORT AGENCY
URGED To AID
FARMERS
Wheat Growers Propose High
Tariff to Rescue Producers
From Loss.
BY MICHAEL F. DACEY,
Cosmopolitan News Service.

Az lawn VI AdIlcjlSnI- LdL AIcAS Will
result from the recent meeting here
Of the American Wheat Growers,
Associated. A Eederal export
agency" is also probable out
growth of action taken here.
The Denver meeting, attended by
delegates from a dozen wheat-grow
ing States, was addressed by
Eugene Meyer, jr., managing di-
rector of the War Finance Corpora
ton, and by former Representative
Frank w. Mondell, of Wyoming, a
director of the corporation, both
Of whom were named by President
Coolidge to make survey of the
important wheat centers of the
country with a view to recommend
ing acton that might alleviate the
economic depression complained of
In the agricultural industry.
Wants Cooperation.
As an important factor in rem
edying existing evils so far as the
wheat grower is concerned, Man.
aging Director Meyer urged adop-
ton Of the cooperative marketing
plan among wheat growers, and in
tinated that the Federal Govern
ment would readily supply financial
aid to enable the wheat growers
to market their crops in an or
derby business manner. Storing Of
wheat to prevent dumping. thus
1nsuring the producer stable
year-round price, will be a part
Of this orderly business manner"
Following a two days confer
ence, the Wheat Growers. Asso-
ciated, adopted a resolution urging
O higher tariff on wheat. George
c. Jewett, of Minneapolis, general
manage" Of the wheat growers or
ganization. was authorized to pre-
sent the body's demands to Presi-
dent Coolidge.
The Resolution.
The tariff resolution adopted
reads:
"That this body. go on record as
urging the President and Congress
of the United States to enact leg1s-
lation. placing a higher tariff on
importation of wheat, and setting
up a body with power to purchase
and merchandise the exportable
surplus and with authority to so
control the trade in wheat that this
exportable surplus may be sold on
the markets of the world, and any
loss taken on. the export able sur
plus be nrOrated back unon the
entire wheat crop Of the country.
"This should apply to any agri-
cultural commodity in which we
find we have at this time an ex-
portable surplus"
Jewett announced that he would
go to Washington shortly there
after to confer with President
Coolidge on the resolution.
Jewett will ask the President, he
announced here, that the emer-
gency clause of the present tariff:
law he invoked to raise the tariff
on wheat Importation so per cent.
The present rate is 80 cents per
bushel and the maximum rate al
lowable under the law is 10 cents
per bushel.
"Cheaply raised Canadian wheat
is flooding this country" Jewett de-
clared, land unless there is prompt
action to stem the tide our wheat
growers will be left with a huge
surplus crop, while Canadian wheat
will be used to produce much of
our. flour.
"The 30-cent wheat tariff is not
high enough to turn back Canadian
wheat"
Jewett said that if he is success.
full in his effort to secure emer-
gency action from President Cool
idge he will submit to Congress a
plan to enact a permanent increase
In the wheat tariff.
Appeal to Congress.
Jewett also expects ii secure
Congressional action on the plan to
get up Government export
agency"
Under the plan we have in
mind" he said, 1.-The Government
will not be forced to spend any
money or suffer loss because of the
operation of such a corporation
The corporation will merely handle
the exportable surplus of American
grown wheat in such a way that
the best world price can be OBJ
tanned from it. Wheat growers ex-
pect to accept a lower price for ex-
port wheat than they do for their
domestic sold grain.
1.-THE loss in price between the
world figure and the domestic price
will be less if handled through a
Government body. The plan is
merely a phase of cooperative mar
keting.
I'm order to protect the Govern
ment against loss it is proposed
that the entire wheat crop shall
write off any loss incurred in
handling the export. That can be
done without causing any great
burden for the wheat grower.
To Spread Loss.
"One plan is to deduct from the
sale price of domestic whea: a
certain amount per bushel at the
primary market. Such sums would
be turned into fund held for the
Government from which It could
draw to offset and losses in hand
ling the export. This does not
mean that the Government will
have to buy wheat or incur any
other obligation, except to direct
marketing of the commodity. The
wheat growers will bear the ex
pense in proportion to the amount
of wheat each raises"
AS the average domestic whea,
sale reaches a total of ESQ 900 .OoC
bushels yearly, and the export II
approximately 170,000,O00 bushels
the wheat growers believe that $
spread of the export loss over .ht
entire production will be an aInnoat