The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-11

solve the problem Of the wheat farm
er by reducing his. taxes.
While taxes are high, in fact un-
reasonably and unnecessarily high.
it should be pointed out that taxes
are comparatively insignificant
item in the cost Of producing bus
he'll of wheat. I believe / see before
me wave Of public sentiment ris-
ing on the horizon which within the
next decade or two will wipe away,
or at least consolidate hundreds up
on hundreds Of municipal, state and
national commissions and boards.
Taxes Not the Solution
Taxes can and should be reduced
both local, state and national but
this alone would not solve the farm
ers' problem or contribute in large
measure to this end. There are those
who point to transportation charges
as being beyond all reason. II is
perfectly clear that transportation
is at the present time adding up =
large share Of the price received by
the grower for his product, but all
public records seem: to indicate that
transportation companies are not
making excessive profits, unless, in
deed, we 60 back to the original is
sue Of stocks, bonds and other Sc
curities upon which We are. at the
present time paying interest in the
form of freight rates. lt
But if we attack these values must
we not at the same time attack
values Of all properties in the cities,
towns and villages and the values of
farm lands as well. Indeed the sen-
tire basis Of our American system
Of private ownership Of property
must stand or fall and therefore let
us recognize that there are in gen
eral no excessive profits being made
by those who have investments in
transportation systems II. our public
reports are to be relied upon. It IL
useless to attempt to solve, one pro-
-blem, the problem Of our wheat belt
farmers, by tearing down or destroy
ing some other great industry.
New Market Routes
It would seem to me that the true
way to reduce our transportation
charges is; first, to distribute the
movement Of our products evenly
over the year.. and second, to reduce
the cost by actually shortening the
distance to the market by some such
program as the st. Lawrence canal.
Such measures ~ these would in the
course of few years reduce the cost
by bushel when measured by the
world market eight or 10 cents and
this alone would measure the mar
gin Of profit or loss. I5would say
all strength to the hands Of those
who, are striving for the deep water
way to the Atlantic and also to those
who are trying to distribute moro
evenly the movement. Of our farm
products throughout the, season.
There are those who would reduce
the cost Of everything which the
farmer must buy. This could readi-
ly be done either by repeating the
immigration Law and bringing in .
flood of-cheap labor, lowering wages,
and in general bringing down costs
Of production Of all other materials
or a repeal Of all tariffs, thus per-
hitting flood Of cheaper materials
to move in from other countries.
This in itself would force the cut
ting Of wages and reducing of costs
of production in order that eAmeri.
can manufacturers might compete
with foreign goods. for one would
not commend either of these solu-.
tions. would say when ninety per-
cent Of our commerce, manufactur-
ing, transportation, finance and all
other activities will prosper why
tear down all these while trying to
improve the condition Of a special
group, especially. when the condition
of that group could so readily be i'm
proved by policy as sound from the
standpoint Of economics and govern
ment as any Of the other policies,
whether it be. immigration restric-
ton, the protective tariff, the Feder-
al Reserve program; or other.
Build Up, Not Tear Down
Let ms not, tear down but let us
build. Let Us build temporary
structure Of protection to our wheat
growers during the period ,of read
justment and let: us build permanent
ly reorganised, system Of farming
in our special wheat belts @ we'll 90
other special belts under the guild
ance and direction a. III who wish
to sec agriculture q whale On the
most prosperous besis. u. u help
first, y build up ,cpnsumj tios: sec
ond. tosreorganise rrednction; Third.
to improve marketing: fourth, 70. re-
ducs transportation eestss fifth, 70
reduce taxation and IN thS many osh.
or ways to improve the situation. But
let this not conceal. Of hide Il, from
view the permanent program which
We must carry forward 4