Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-07

or duty as warrants uncompromising
| action BY the government.
Reorganization ~4-~--
A special joint committee has been
/ appointed to work out a plan for a
reorganization of the different de-
partments and bureaus of the gov
eminent more scientific and economi-
cal than the present system. With
the exception of the consolidation of
the War and Navy Departments and
some minor details, the plan has the
general sanction of the President and
| the Cabinet. 1t is important that re-
| organization be enacted into law at
the present session. -
Agriculture
Aided by the sound principles
adopted by the Government, the BUSH
ness of the country has had an ex-
| traordinary revival. Looked at as a
! whole. the Nation is in the enjoyment
of remarkable prosperity. Industry
| and commerce are thriving. For the
most part. agriculture is successful,
eleven staples having risen in value
from about $5,S00.000,000 two years
ago to about $1,000, 100000. for the
| current year. But range cattle are
still low in pricc;>anC 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 q parity
with the products of industry. every
sound remedy that can be devised
should b. applied for the relief of the
! farmer. He represents a character,
q type of citizenship. and a public
necessity that must be preserved and
afforded every facility for regaining
prosperity.
The diStress is most acute among
those Vbolly dependent upon one
| crop. Wheat acreage was greatly ex-
pandet. and has not yet been -suffi-
| GENTLY reduced. A large amount is
I 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 treasury will
| be of any permanent value in estab-
! fishing agriculture. Simple and direct
| methods put into operation by the
/ farmer himself are the only real
sources for restoration.
! Indirectly the farmer must be re-
| :ieved by q reduction of national ana
/ local taxation. He must be assisted
| by the reorganization of the frelght-
rate structure which could reduce
| charges on his production. To make
! This fully effective there ought to be
railroad consultations. Cheaper fer
/ tilizers must be provided.
| He must have organization. Ills
customer with whom he exchanges
products of the farm for those OF IN
dustry is organized, labor Is organ :
| lied, business is organized. and there
| is no way for agriculture to meet this
unless it. too. is organized The acre
age of wheat is too large. Cniess
we can meet the world market at
profit, we must stop raising for eX-
port Organization would help 10 re-
duce acreare. Systems OF coopera-
five marketing created by the far
! mers themselves. supervised by con. .
petent management. without DOUBT
! would be of assistance. but they
cannot wholly solve the nrobiem. ol'r
agricultural schools ought 10 EaVe
! thorough courses in the theory OF or
| canization and coop '-atives market
i ing. r,,oce
| Diversification is nncess2rr. 1hose
! farmers who raise their hvlnS ON
their land are not greatly IN dlstress'
| Such loans as are wisely needed 10
oseist huyinc stock and other ma
tor;a1s TO start in this direction
/ should he financed through govern
nent agency as o temporary anu EN-
! cr~ency eXpedient. H.
| THE remaining difficulty is the as
! position of exportable- wheat. W,
pot favor the permanent interference
! or the Government in this problem.
| Thot nrohablv would increase the
! trouble by increasing productlon'
I But it seems feasible to proVide GOV,
eminent assistance to exports , Tnu
authority should he given NC VIZ ~
| Einance CORPORATION n grant, IN lts
discretioY, the most liberal terms O,
nnvment for fats and grains @XNorteu
: for the direct benefit of the farm.
! Muscle Shoals
Tho Government is undertaking 10
! devotion great water-power proJeCt
! known as Muscle Shoals. on Wntch
! i has expended many million dollars.
, The work is still going on. SUBJECT
! In tho right to retake in time of war.
| T recommend that this property with
! n, location for auxiliary steam plant
| and rights of way he sold rms
would end the the present burden OF
expense and should return to the
! Treasury the largest price posslpie 10
secure.
| While the price is an important
element, there is another cnnsidera-
| ton even more compelling. The agfl-
| culture of the Nation needs q greater
supply and lower cost OF feruliZer.
| This is now imported in large guam
| titles. The best information l can
! secure indicates that present meth
DDS of power production would not
be able profitably to meet the price
at which these imports can be sofa.
| To obtain n supply from this water
| power would require long and costly
! Experimentation to perfect process
| for cheap production. Otherwise our
purpose would fail completely. 1t
seems desirable, therefore, in order to
! protect and promote the public well
| fare. to have adequate covenants that
i such experimentation he made ana
carried on to success. The great ad-
vantage of low-priced nitrates must
be secured for the direct benefit OF
| the farmers and the indirect benefit of
the public in time of peace, and of
the Government in time of war. If
this main object be accomplished
the amount of money received for the
property is not primary or major
consideration.
Such a solution will involve COM
plicated negotiations, and there is no
authority for that purpose. I there
fore recommend that the Congress
appoint small joint committee to
consider offers. conduct negotiations,
and report definite recommendations.
Reclamation
BY reason Of many contributing
causes. occupants of our reclamation
projects are in financial difficulties,
which in some cases are acute. Re-
lief should be granted by definite au-
thority of law empowering the Sec
rotary of the Interior in his discretion
to suspend, readjust. and reassess all
charges against water users. This
whole question is being considered by