The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-04-02
Frank CIague
Looking Over
Farm Measures
(Slayton HeraIdl

Congressman Frank Clague, is on
the job, striving in every manner pos
sible to bring relief to his farmer
constituents. AS member OF the
agricultural committee he is having
hearings daily on the various bills
coming before that important com
mittee.
In reply to a letter written him by
r. F. Lamb, Congressman Clague
writes as follows of the McNary-
Haugen bill, which has been greatly
discussed in this locality for the past
few months. Congressman Clague
says:
In the matter of the McNary Haul
gen Bill:
The purpose of the bill is to estab-
lish a government agency that Will
take over and dispose of surplus pro-
ducts, and live stock whenever the
president declares an emergency TO
exist. Much evidence has been given
by the proponents and there is also
considerable opposition to the bill, par
ticularly by importers, large mlilers
and grain exchanges.
Under this plan there wouid be no
money lost to the government. The
main purpose of the bill is to raise
the ratio price Of farm products and
live stock to comparative price OF
the articles the farmer has to buy.
If this bill was in force at the pre-
sent time, the price of wheat would
be about $1.60 and under it, the farm,
er would receive about $1.35 cash ana
a scrip for the balance which could
he cashed in at the end of the market
wear. This scrip at the end OF the
wear might be worth more than lot
for every bushel of wheat solo, but II
he got ten cents on the scrip for ev-
ery bushel of wheat sold, it would
make his actual price of wheat about
S1.25. The same principle would work
out as to other products. The Dill
is rather complicated and would en-
tail good deal of government ma
chinery. No one knows just what 1t
would cost to carry out the provisions
of the law; in other words, 1t would
be somewhat of an experiment. But
it has this good feature, that there
is to be no loss to the government.
It is true that the bill provides for an
appropriation of 5000, 100000 to start
the government agency in Operation,
but this amount is to be returned and
comes out of the price Of the products.
Il have given my best consideration
to the bill and while it is rather COM
plicated, in my opinion, it is the only
general bill that has the principles
of merit. l am very anxious TO have
this bill reported out of the committee
as soon as possible, but before re-
porting the same out, we are doubly
anxious to get the bill in workable
shape. This bill involves one Of the
greatest problems that ha, ever come
before Congress and we don't want
to send out bill that will be found
to be worthless, if passed.
Every effort is being made to SIM
plify the bill. In other words, we do
not want it so complicated that when
it is put into effect, our farmers will
say that the machinery of the bill is
too complicated and that it cannot be
made to work effectively.
We are now holding daily hearings
on the bill and next week expect to
go into executive session FOR the pur-
pose of trying to simplify and put
the bill in shape SO that it can be
defended when it comes upon the floor.
In my opinion, it has the principles
Of being made workable and if it can
be made to work, it is going to give
the farmers ratio price for farm
products including live stock.
Will send you, within couple of
days, some further printed hearings
upon the bill. wish to assure you
and the people Of our district that l
shall do everything I can to hurry
along the passage of this bill.
Sincerely yours,
Frank Clag3e.