Evening star., 1924-11-18
SKyL|MT IN FARM
/ EXPERTS INQUIRY
No Political or Sectional In
fIuenceS to Hinder Fact
; Finding Commission.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

BI DAVID BA"RENCE.
The most important political and
economic problem of the after-the-
war period In American history Is at
last being tackled from non par
tisan and judicial standpoint without
either the pressure Of party politics
or interference by sectional groups.
A commission OF nine selected by
the President has been given the
widest possible scope for Its inquiry.
The appointment OF the commission
is sequel not only to the failure
Of the last session Of Congress to
get together on farm relief pro-
gram, but to the unreconciled con-
fict between the D@pa rtment OF Com
nlerce and the Department. OF Agr.-
culture on the placing OF the Bureau
OF Markets In one department or the
other.
The new commission has beea
ASKED particularly to, restrict itself
in no way. but TO go into the whole
farm problem. II has been told that
It can make recomm endations with
re5rect to the arrangement or CON
solidation of various bureaus having
10 do with the farm problem. II is
not only TO inquire into the workings
O! present laws, hUt to render an
opinion on tie different proposals
pending IN the last Session o" Con-
grsss for farm relief. and tss'iy Il is
TO concec- itsei! Hith ways and
means or promoting the study cf CO.
operative marketing.
Way Start College Courses.
On the last point it would not be
surprising IL the commission started
program Of study in the land grant
colleges SO that cooperative market
Tag would be studied from the Rca-
demic side just as business manage
Dlent and finance are studied in prep
sration for the tasks OF the indus
trial and manufacturing world.
There is no eXaggeratine the i'm
pertaRce OF the work OF the new
commission with respect to pending
bills Pride OF authorship. the inner
politics OF farm organizations and a
sa!T dozen other problems have be-
come interviewer with each other 70
.Dch an extent that IL has been diff
hcult for the administration to back
Wnole-heaI tcd'J any one bill. Nor
has it been practical to obtain the
aigamatiou Of several proposals
INTO one.
Nothing was more disappointing TO
The members of the Senate and House
from agricultural States In the last
session thar the failure to pass any
o!l! OF Importance with respect to
farm relief. Congress had the de-
practica! knowledge. The congress
s'onai committees were so torn by
tae conflicting proposals that virtual
ly nothing was accomplished.
Non-Partisan Backing Seen.
Mr.. Coolidge wanted to put the as-
r:cultural commission 10 work i'm
'7ediately after Congress adjourned
last Spring. but was advised to wait
TIL after the Autumn election so the
issue could be taken out of politics
temporarily at least. Now the com
mission meets therefore In a favora-
bic atmosphere. 1t need not think OF
what effect its proposals will have
on any political party: indeed, the
chances are that If 1t can bring out
a unanimous report the Democrats
from agricultural States will support
It as strongly as the Republicans.
Another advantage which the COM
mission enjoys is that no crisis or
acute situation is Immediately ahead
The condition OF agriculture, while
far from what must ultimately be de-
sired II stability is to be experienced
for any length OF time, is neyerthe-
less better than it was year or two
ago. Usually X there is a crisis In
any particular industry the proposals
for relief are so extreme in character
and the judgments OF the proponents
warped Dy acute reeIlnS thAt q calnl
consideration Of the merits OF any
suggestion Is difficult.
Action Possible This winter.
The new commission hopes to get
IT'S report ready for the Winter ses-
sion of Congress. That is optimistic.
There are many reasons why action
1t the coming session would be desir-
ahle and even easy to obtain should
there be a unanimous report from the
commission.
But most controlling will be the
knowledge that the farm areas Of the
United States will be demanding
special session after March to get
something done on the committees
recommendations. The committee has
all the cooperation II needs from
Government agencies and farm or.
Sanizations. and might surprise
everybody by having a report ready
in February. There is TO be a meeting OF
the National Council for Cooperative
Marketing here in January, whose
discussions probably will be helpful
TO the commission.
Copyright, 1s24)