The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-17
FARM HORIZON
AFLAME WITH
REVIVED HOPE
congress Is Attempting 10
Live Up to Promises,
Says Bureau Head.
BY SAM II. THOMPSON,
President American Farm Bureau
Federation.

fcdeFatlon.
written Exclusively for The United Press
CHICAGO, April I7.-Members Of
congress Of both parties are making
a determined effort TO live up to
the campaign promises made to the
farmers Of the nation last falls
Thus far, the farmers can COM
mend the proceedings whole heart
eddy.
The President issued his call for
the extraordinary session Of con-
gress, as he said he would. and in
response % the call that body is
now in session. Committees already
have worked cut bills one OF which
Is before the house OF representa-
tives. Speaker LOngWorth is coun-
selling brevity in debate and there IS
every reason to believe that the ad-
mlnlStration viii make good TO the
farmers at this special session.
Compliment to Agriculture
This session is note vorthy in two
respects, To which It seems to me the
nation we'll might give thought. The
Constitution provides that the ma
tioual legislature shall be assembled
in extra sessions only for most
extraordinary occasions and it is
deeply significant that this present
session has been called to consider
almost exclusively the welfare OF
one industry agriculture.
Farmers well can take pride in the
fact that through gradual growth,
We have developed such power that
the entire nation is sufficiently
aware Of our plight to sanction this
unusual procedure.
The other significant aspect of the
situation Is that tor the first time in
the history Of the farmers long fight
for national recognition, the three
principal farmers organizations, the
National Grange, the Farmers IN
on. and the American Farm Bureau
federation, are united upon a Joint
declaration of policy. This plat
form was presented to the congress
sional leaders IN Washington last
week.
Some Amendments Needed
I have studied with some care
the farm relief bill which on Mon
day was submitted to the house of
representatives. by Congressman
Haugen.
The preamble Of this house farm
bill very closely comedies with the
agricultural plank of the Republican
party platform, with President Hoo
yer's statement in his speech of ac-
ceptance, and with the Joint de-
clsration issued last week by the
three national farm organizations.
Many OF the features of the bill
are worked out eycellently. There
are. however, details which should
have very serious thought and which
may require amending. Among
these are. first, the marked differ
ence in status OF the chairman of
the proposed federal farm board and
that Of the other memoirs of that
board.
As the bill provides. the chair
mans term Of Office is on a different
basis than that Of the other men,
bers. And while the salary of the
others Is specified clearly. the chair
mans salary is left entirely to the
discretion Of the President.
Good Features in Bill
That there is no requirement that
members of the board should have
agricultural qualifications also is
subject for consideration.
Among the commendable features
OF the bill is the provision for one
sterilization corporation for each
commodity, with a commodity ad-
yisory counsel to back it up.
Another excellent feature is the
provision for loans to cooperate
marketing associations. to be used in
merchandising commodities. in ac-
curing physical facilities. in form
ing clearing house associations. and