The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-15
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

Copyright. Scripps-Howard Newspapers.
1929
UTASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-With
w the national Grange conven-
ton here admitting the death of
the equalization fee proposal, the
administration today was hopeful
the winter session of congress could
agree on farm relief bill making
the Hoover extra session" unnec-
essary.
Secretary of Agriculture Jardine
and Senator McNary Of oregon,
author of the twice-vetoed equalt-
zation fee bill, are understood to
have reached a general agreement
on a new McNary bill to be intro
duced when congress meets next
month.
President-elect Hoover, Senators
Borah and Brookhart, and others
are committed to the pledge Of an
extra session if necessary, But
all of the farm organizations are
anxious for legislation to aid mar
keting of next years crops, which is
a spur to congressional action be-
fore Hoover's Inauguration.
The main feature Of the admin
istration program and Of the new
McNary bill is the creation OF a
sterilization marketing corporation,
to be owned by the farm co-opera-
tive organizations but aided by a
federal revolving fund of $500 ,000,0 900
or more.
The only important difference re-
naming between the administers
ton and the McNary group con-
Germs disposition of profits accruing
from operation of the sterilization
corporation.
McNary would return such profits
to the revolving fund, while Sec
rotary Jardine favors retention OF
profits by the co-operatives to
strengthen the sterilization corpor-
alton.
THERE is no dispute over the
l. proposed federal farm board,
which Hoover stressed in his CAM
paign as the co-ordinating and chief
agency for government aid. This
board would:
/. Lend money to the co-opera-
tives for the stabilizing and markets
ing machinery, and for construc-
ton of warehouses.
2. Share management and control
of co-operatives to the extent OF
protecting federal funds.
3. Coordinate a system of advis-
DRY councils for each major crop,
supplying expert data and opinion
on acreage and other problems.
AS an example of the benefit Of
the sterilization corporation project,
it is pointed out the average price
of the cotton crop two years ago
was 16 cents.
But some hard-pressed farmers
were forced to sell as low as 9
cents, and 60 per cent of the crop
was sold for IL cents. In similar
situation the sterilization corpora
ton would be expected to buy at
IA cents and sell at 16 cents.
In addition the present and in
coming administrations are commit
ted to upward revision of tariffs on
farm products. Some nonpartisan
economists agree with the campaign
charges of Governor Smith that no
further relief is possible in that
direction.
While the National Grange con-
vention now in session recognizes
the death Of the equalization fee,
there is a possibility that the
Oranges insistence on its export
debenture plan for adjusting tariff
inequalities" may lead to another
bitter fight in congress.
TINE full agricultural rehabilita-
i ton program presented to the
convention by Louis ]. Tabor, mas
ter of the National Grange, follows:
1. Wider organization Of the FARM
ers themselves; better balanced crop
production; research for industrial
uses for farm surplus products.
2. Increased duties on many ag-
ricultural imports; broader powers
for the United States tariff COM
mission; tariff equality for the
farmer with other producers.
3. Use of the export debenture as
a means of making the tariff eff
fective on staple farm crop sur
pluses.
4. Replace present haphazard
dumping methods with business
like distribution, aided by extension
of cooperative marketing; but with
control always retained by the
farmers themselves.
5. Opposition to new irrigation
and reclamation projects until evil
dences appear of actual need for
food purposes. Encouragement for
forest and recreation areas, in
reforestation of certain farm
lands.
Tabor strongly opposes proposed
corporation farming" involving
large investments, mass production
and substitution of hired labor for
present owner operators.
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