The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-07
JARDINE TELLS
FARMER NEEDS
IN HIS REPORT
Suggests Freight Rate Over
hauling, Tax Revision,
More Cooperation

WaShington. De-. 7.-(P) An over
hauling Of agriculture! freight rates.
revision Of farm taxes, government
encouragement TO cooperative farm
organizations. and proper utilization
Of the public domain for agricultural
purposes were the outstanding rec
concentrations mad" today by Sccrc-
tary Jardine of the Agriculture De
partment in his annual report
The Secretary said that while there
has been Il general Improvement dur
ing the past year, farm conditions
are not yet satisfactory.
Declaring for a gene raj overhaul
ing Of all freight rates. he propos-
ed that revision should take into ac-
count the market value Of farm pro-
duets as reflected over a reasonable
period Of years, and 'likcwise the
influence Of freight rates on the
economic development Of different
regions and Of the country rs a
whole"
"In relation to prc-war conditions,'
said the report. "thc prices Of farm
products are not yet on par with
freight rates. The level Of farm
commodity prices in September was
IA per cent of the prc-war average,
whereas freight rates on agricul
tural commodities were 1913 per cent
Of the prc-war average. Moreover
the prices Of agricultural products
fluctuatc greatly from year to year
whereas freight rates are stable and
are not frequently changcd.'
Rates Should BE Flexible
1t was added that farm freight rates
should be based on u continuing set
of general conditions. not on those
Of any given year, unless freight
rates can be made more flexible, be-
ing raised when prices are high and
lowered when they decline, within
reasonable limits"
Pointing to the greatly increased
taxes per acre the farmer is required
to pay now over the amount several
years ago, the Secretary expressed
a view that it would be impossible to
restore the tax rates Of 10 years ago,
equitable distribution Of the tax
agricultural industry may expect re-
sumo an undue proportion of farm
income"
Farm taxes" the report said. "arc
chiefly general property taxes levied
by the states and the local units on
the basis Of capital value. and they
bear little or no direct relation to
current farm earnings
zone of the most important fac
! tors which contribute to the excess
sivc taxation of agriculture is the
tendency of many states to improve
the public schools and public roads
largely at the cpcnSc Of the Local!
Districts
TO Aid Cooperation
Natural development OF coopc'a
tive organizations as specific need
in agriculture, the report asserted,
! makes it seem obvious that govern
mental supervision and control are
! not desirable. Excessive regulation,
! it said. will smother the movement.
"W hat the department is already
doing" the report stated. Indicates
the nature Of the service it can give
! to cooperation. 1t is studying mar
heting problems, examining the
causes of success and failure in CO.
F., ope ration. advising farmers. aiding
them in extending their markets, Civ
! ing market services. and in general
! is helping producers corre!atc their
| production plans.
! "Wha the government can 90 fur
Their to assist the cooperative move
incnt dcpcYds upon the funds avail
able for such work and the demands
OF the cooperative, association. The
department stands ready to extend
its services to the full extent Of its
present facilities, and to recommend
such engagements Of it's research
work and services as shall appear
advisable after consultation with CO.
| operative organizations and care
full study of their needs"
Concerning HOmcsicadcrs
The Secretary criticized the policy
of permitting the public domain to
be sporadically occupied by home
steaders in holdings Of uniform size
with little reference to the capacity
of sach holding to maintain a fam
lily except as determined by the in
experienced settler"
Furthermore, allowing the unap-
propriated and unreserved lands of
the public domain to be used as graz