The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-10-23

session. there IL much to be hoped
gress, except to pass the annual ap-
preparation bills. and 1t Is a fair in
ference that farm legislation BY the
6Sth congress has been completed.
During the 9th congress and
while President Harding was alive
there were passed twelve important
laws in behalf of agriculture, be-
sides a number of farm bills of
minor Importance. Here's the list:
First An act introduced by Mr..
Volstead making it lawful for all
kinds of agricultural corporations,
with or without capital stock, to
make agreements in respect to col
lective bargaining in procuring, pre-
pairing for market, handling and
marketing their products. This Is
probably the most important bill in
aid of agriculture passed in many
years, and has been styled by some
enthusiasts as the great charter Of
farm cooperative liberty. Prior to
the enactment of this law bunch
| of farmers who made collective
agreements or formed pools in re-
gard to the sale of their products,
were in danger of arrest and punish
ment for violation of the Sherman
| antitrust law.
Second The emergency tariff
law, which was passed about a year
in advance of the regular tariff law
in order to rescue number of farm
industries from distress which had
been left exposed by the Democratic
Underwood tariff law to ruinous for
eign competition. If you have any
doubt as to the benefits of the emer
gency tariff act to the American peo-
pie, just compare the fiscal years of
1921 and 1922, and you will see that
the value of our imports during the
year 1921, was over billion dollars
more than they were during the year
1922. In other words, our farmers
and producers got to sell over bill
ion dollars worth of agricultural
products and manufactured goods to
our own people, which but for that
act, would have been sold to them
by importers.
Third. The act to regulate inter-
state and foreign commerce in live
stock and dairy products, poultry
and poultry products, which Is COM
monty known as the Packers and
Stockyards Act of 1921. This is an
other of the more important laws in
respect to agriculture passed during
the present administration.
Fourth The law to amend the
Warehouse Act. The old law cover
ed only cotton, grain, wool, tobacco, |
and flax seed. The new law covers
all staple farm products to be desig-
mated by the secretary of agriculture
and the penalty for violation, which
before was insignificant, was made
very drastic.
Fifth. The law prohibiting the
sale of filled milk. During the Will
son administration a big industry
had grown up in the preparation and
sale of a product consisting of skim
med milk with the addition of a I
vegetable fat. This product looked
like milk and was sold in can OF
of canned milk The doctors of the
country however, declared it to be a
cheat and a detriment to children. |
So that the passage Of this law not
only created great market for |
dairying fats, but also removed a |
menace to the health of the people.
Sixth. A law to enlarge the pow
ers of the war finance corporation,
to permit loans to the farmers to aid
in the production and marketing of
farm. products.
Seventh. The law provided for
additional credit facilities to the
agricultural and livestock indus
tries through the establishment of
federal intermediate credit banks.
Twelve such banks were authorized
with a combined capital of sixty
million dollars and authority given
them to issue tax exempt bonds in
ten times the amount of their capital
and surplus.
Eighth. An act authorizing di- /
rect loans to be made to the farmers
If the western states for the purpose
If buying seed wheat, carrying an
appropriation of one million five
thousand dollars. This
money was loaned quickly and with
tut red tape by Secretary Wallace
o the farmers in the hard wheat
,elt.
Ninth. An act authorizing the
purchase by the treasury depart
nent of farm loan bonds to the ex-
ent of twenty-five million dollars.
he passage of this law became nee
ssary because of the slOwness of
he sale at that time Of federal farm
Dan bonds. 1t was passed to af-
ord immediate relief to agriculture.
Tenth. The law to define butter
nd provide a standard therefor.
his law had been requested by
airy organizations for number OF
ears and was looked upon as
reat need in the dairy industry as
vell as a protection to the public.
Eleventh. An act to establish
nd promote the use Of official cot
On standards in interstate and for
ign commerce to prevent deception
herein, and provide for the proper
pplication of such standards. This