Evening star., 1925-07-19
FARM LEGISLATION
WILL Be PUSHED
Administration and Heads of
Bloc to Urge Action When
Congress Convenes.

Farm legislation will be pushed to
the forefront again as soon as Con-
greSS assemblies. This has been
shown by utterances at the Summer
White House, where Senator Curtis
is soon to confer with the President,
one of the major subjects being what
legislation the administration should
advance for the agricultural interests.
1t has been shown in statements
made by Secretary Jardine on his
Western trip that he would support
cooperative marketing legislation,
even though he feels that the agri-
cultural ills cannot be cured by legis-
lation, and he opposes the McNary-
Haugen and kindred measures.
Again Representative Dickinson,
Republican of Iowa, who is prominent
in the agriculture group in the House
and known as leader of the farm bloc
in that body when the bloc movement
was at its height, back in Washing
ton for couple of hours, has just de-
clared that he will urge farmer relief
legislation entirely independent of the
administration agricultural program.
His bill, on which he has conferred
with many leaders among the dirt
farmers, will deal with cooperative
marketing and provide for the dis
posal of surpluses of agricultural
staples. His legislative proposals, he
said, have been promised the support
of many agricultural organizations.
Legislation Demanded.
Incidentally Representative Dickin-
son finds that the farmers of the
Middle West have not been greatly
impressed, and fail to enthuse over
the generalities which Secretary Jar
dine offered in an attempt to quiet
agricultural unrest. They are more
insistent than ever before, he de-
clares, that legislation must be en-
troubles. This will force the most
clean-cut fight for farm legislation
ever seen in Washington" during the
coming session, Representative Dick
inson declared.
The farmers OF the West, he in
sisted, are demanding and will con-
tinue to demand from Congress that
they be permitted TO share in the pro-
tective tariff policy of the country
and that they be put in a position
where they will not be compelled to
rely upon increases in land prices and
accidents TO enable them to make a
living.
THE farmers of Iowa were never
so united as they are today in de-
manding that legislation be enacted
which will put them on an even
Dickinson.
He outlined a bill which he will
urge for a Federal farm commission
of seven members, named by the
President from candidates put forth
by farm organizations throughout the
country. This commission, on which
the Secretary of Agriculture would
be a member. but which would not
be under the Department of Agricul-
ture, would deal with economic pol
icieS regarding agriculture. In par
ticular, it would be it's duty to pro-
mote and foster co-operatives with
out licensing, auditing or controlling
them, and would handle surpluses of
agricultural staples when necessary.
Buying, selling, exporting and stor-
age of such surpluses would be
within the power of the commission,
if necessary, to prevent undue de-
preston in agricultural prices. Mr..
Dickinson estimates that a fund of
800, ,000, 900 will be necessary. To an
extent, the bill would carry out the
McNary- Haugen idea, but without its
intricate machinery
The Dickinson bill Is the outcome Of
the meeting held in Des Moines last
May, attended by representatives of
the various farm organizations.
Avoids Price Fixing.
The bill differs from the old Nc
Nary -Haugen bill in that it avoids all
attempts at price fixing except so far
as taking up the surplus will main
tain the domestic price, and there is
to be no voluntary tax against the
farmer to absorb the funds utilized.
Senator Brookhart of Iowa has pro-
posed $500 100000 be used for this
purpose, but Representative Dickin-
son believes 500, 100000 will be
enough.
1t is declared that former Gov.
Frank o. Lowden is back of such a
plan in a general way and that he
will probably be the first witness be-
fore the House committee on agricul
ture in support of it. The political
significance of this is not overlooked
here. A strong movement to nominate
Mr.. Lowden for President in 1928 has
been started by his friends and they
believe his relation to the movement
for relief of the farmers will greatly