Evening star., 1928-12-04

JOHN C.
times capable of appeasing the demands
of the moment, cannot permanently
solve the surplus problem and might
seriously aggravate it. Hence putting
the Government directly into business,
subsidies and price fixing and the allur-
ing promises of political action as a
substitute for private initiative should
be avoided.
"The Government should aid in pro-
noting orderly marketing and in ham
ding surpluses clearly due to weather
and seasonal conditions. AS a beginning
there should be created Federal farm
board consisting of able and expert
enced men empowered to advise pro-
ducers' associations In establishing CEN
tral agencies or stabilization corpora
tions to handle surpluses, to seek more
economical means Of merchandising,
and to aid the producer in securing re-
turns according to the quality OF his
product. A revolving loan fund should
be provided for the necessary financing
until these agencies shall have deVel-
oped means of financing their opera
tions through regularly constituted
credit institutions. Such bill should
carry authority for raising the money,
by loans or otherwise, necessary to
meet the expense, as the Treasury has
no surplus.
Agriculture has Jagged behind in
dustry in achieving that unity OF ef-
fort which modern economic life de-
mands. The cooperative movement
which is gradually building the needed
organization, is in harmony with pub
lie interest and therefore merits public
encouragement
Responsibility Lies
Within States Sphere.
Important phases of public policy
related to agriculture lie within the
sphere of the States. While successive
reductions In Federal taxes have re-
lieved most farmers of direct taxes TO
the National Government, State and
local levies have become a. serious bur-
den This problem needs immediate
and thorough study with a. view to cor
rection at the earliest possible moment.
1t will have to be made largely by the
States themselves.
Commerce Department
Contributes to Trade.
ut is desirable that the Government
continue its helpful attitude toward
American business The activities of
the Department of Commerce have con-
tributed largely to the present satis
factory position in our international
trade, which has reached about $9,00O,-
100000 annually. There should be no
slackening of effort in that direction
1t is also important that the depart
ment's assistance to domestic commerce
be continued There is probably no
way in which the Government can aid
sound economic progress more effective
ly than by cooperating with our busi-
ness men to reduce wastes in distribu-
ton.
Progress in Civil
Aviation Gratifying.
Continued progress in civil aviation
is most gratifying. Demands for air.
planes and motors have taxed both the
industry and the licensing and inspec-
ton service of the Department of Com
merce to their capacity. While the COM
pulsory licensing provisions of the air
commerce act apply only to equipment
and personnel engaged in interstate and
foreign commerce, Federal license
may be procured by any one possessing
the necessary qualifications. State leg
islation, local airport regulations and
insurance requirements make such a
license practically indispensable. This
results in uniformity of regulation and
increased safety in operation, which
are essential to aeronautical develop
ment Over 1900 young men and
women have now applied for Federal
air pilots licenses or permits More
nf fhnpn
the past year.
Our national airway system exceeds
$4,000 miles in length and has $500
miles lighted for night operations. Pro-
vision has been made for lighting 1000
miles more during the current fiscal
year, and eQuipping an equal mileage
with radio facilities. Three-quarters OF
our people are now served by these
routes. With the rapid growth of air
mail, express and passenger service, this
new transportation medium is daily be-
coming a more important factor in
commerce 1t Is noteworthy that this
development has taken place without
governmental subsidies. Commercial
passenger flights operating on schedule
have reached 10000 miles per day.
During the next fortnight this Ma
tion will entertain the nations of the
fifth anniversary of the first successful
airplane flight. The credit for this
epoch-making achievement belongs to
citizen of our own country, Orville
Wright
Cuban Parcel Post
Convention Urged.
II desire to repeat my recommended
ton of an earlier message that Con-
gress enact the legislation necessary to
make permanent the parcel post con-
vcntion with Cuba, both as a facility
to American commerce and as meas
ure of equity to Cuba in the one class
OF goods which that country can send
here by parcel post without detriment
to our own trade.
Maine BattIeship
Memorial Needs Home.
when / attended the Pan-American
Conference at Havana, the President of
Cuba showed me a marble statue made
from the original memorial that was
overturned by storm after it was
erected on the Cuban shore to the
memory OF the men who periShed in
the destruction of the battleship Maine.
AS testimony of friendship and ap-
probation of the Cuban government
and people he most generously offered
to present this to the United States, and
/ assured him OF my pleasure in ac-
cepting it. There Is no location in the
White House for placing SO large and