Evening star., 1926-12-12
The Story the Week Has Told

under orders from Congress to in
veStigate the freight rate structure
and to make indicated changes look
ing to greater freedom Of movement
of agricultural products. Development
of railroad consolidation would have
a like happy result, and the President
seems to recommend legislation or
this head at the present session
Similarly the farmer would benefit
from improvement and development
Of the internal waterways. especially
as regards the Mississippi system and
the conversion Of the great lakes ports
by way Of an all-American canal OF
by way Of Improvement Of the St
Lawrence.
Apparently Mr.. Coolidge would
have the present Congress decide as
between the all-American canal and
st. Lawrence projects and proceed
to implement its decision; and ap-
parently he would have the Congress
sanction Mr.. Hoover's magnificent
Mississippi system and provide for
commencement of work on the
trunk lines.
There should be legislation to
regulate grazing in the national
forests and on the vast public
domain in the special interest of
stabilization of the live stock in
dustry: but apparently the Presi-
dent does not contemplate such
action by the present Congress.
Abundance of cheap fertilizer
would be an immense boon to the
farmer, and apparently the President
would be gratified If, to this end
among others, the present Congress
would finally settle the Muscle
Shoals question.
Il must justify my frequent repe-
tition Of apparently" the President
seems to say. Gentlemen there is
good deal Of important legisla-
ton which it behooves you to enact
as speedily as possible. But your
time is limited and you must con-
centrate on the few items which
seem to you most pressing. In only
a very few instances do / undertake
definitely to guide your choice.'O
AS Of old the President looks to
orthodox development of co-opera-
tive marketing as offering the main
hope of further relief to the farmer.
Apparently he regards the legisla-
ton already on the books as fairly
answerable to the necessities In this
connection. But he admits the possi
BILE desirability of supplementary
legislation in this sense. For ex-
ample, the Federal credit agencies
might be broadened and strength
ened for the benefit of the cooper
atives.
But, having reasserted his old well
known position, the President feels it
necessary to take account of the
clamor for more drastic measures.
On this head the President is non-
committal; adversely SO, one pre-
sumes. Attention" says he. ''is
again directed to the surplus problem
Of agriculture by the present cotton
situation Surpluses often affect
prices Of various farm commodities
in q disastrous manner, and the
problem urgently demands a solution.
Discussion both in and out Of Con-
gress during the past few years has
given us a better understanding Of the
subject, and it is my hope that out of
the various proposals made the basis
will be found for a sound and effective
solution upon which agreement can
be reached" The solution, Of course,
must "avoid putting the Government
into the business Of production or
marketing or price fixing"
The President, obviously. gives no
lead, but, with a suggestion of sly
humor. he intimates that he is wait.