Evening star., 1925-01-14
NEW LAND POLICY
FARMER AID PLAN
CooIidge'S Commission Says
Present Agencies Can
Give Needed Relief.

Assistance for the live stock in
dustry through existing financial
agencies and through new land
policy to permit grazing on unappro-
priated public domain were recon-
mended today to President Coolidge
by his Agricultural Commission in a
preliminary report
A later report will deal with pos
sible additional relief through re-
vision of transportation charges and
a protective tariff. The commission
said ii wished to emphasize now that
The welfare of agriculture also de-
mands an early and thorough re-
vision of the freight rate structure"
Declaring existing agencies can
handle the live stock financing situa-
ton, the commission declared the
Federal intermediate credit banks
should assume the full responsible
ity by aggressively and sympa-
thetically undertaking to cover the
field and thus support and supple
ment the normal financing or live
stock paper"
Legislation Suggested.
The only Legislation SuEtreeIed was
amendment of the agricultural cred
its act to eliminate the provision that
prohibits rediscounting by Federal In
termediate credit banks of loans ne
gotiated by federally chartered agri-
cultural credit agencies.
In recommending use of the public
domain for cattle grazing, the COM
mission suggested that a uniform
policy for grazing on national forests
and public land be drawn UP by a
committee on which the live stock
industry would be represented. Mean
time. the commission declared no in
crease should be made in grazing
charges.
Urge Early Adjustment.
The report expressed confidence in
the live stock industry and urged
that adjustments be made as speedily
as possible. These adjustments
should deal with finance. transper-
tation costs. tariff and grazing, 1t said
The root of the present credit prob
lem, the commission declared, lies in
the breakdown of the old packer
controlled live stock loan companies,
the weakened and restricted condi-
tton of many local banks OF the range
country and the lack of available
primary discount agencies"
1t was urged that the intermediate
credit banks grant only such loans as
of the investors in Government de-
bentures," and that the Farm Loan
Board enter upon a campaign to in
form cattle men and bankers that the
credit banks are able and willing to
provide adequate rediscount facilities
for all sound loans.
Advise Board In Ready.
The commission was advised it's re-
port said. that the Farm Loan Board
stands ready to carry out this pro-
gram.
Horizontal changes In freight rates.
the commission found. and depression
OF agricultural prices have laid a spe-
cial burden upon the cattle industry
A serious emergency was said TO ex-
ist not only in freight rates. but also
In the lack of provision of interline
rates. and In routing arrangements.
Lack of tariff protection from COM
petition with hides and meat products
from foreign countries, produced by
cheaper labor and under different
standards of production" the COM
mission reported. also are hurting the
industry.
Other agricultural enterprises were
said by the commission to have suf-
fered from similar competition, but
on this subject the commission said
II had found it best 10 reserve It's
recommendations"