Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-16
HOOVER ASKS LAW
TO HELP FARMERS
Message Also Favors Tariff
Revision Of Limited Scope
During Session.
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Continued From First Page.)
Monies and would result in constructive
action. The administration is pledged
to create an fundamentally that will
investigate the causes, find sound RENE
dies and have the authority and re-
sources to apply those remedies.
Marketing System Ideas.
Mr.. Hoover sees In the creation of
such farm board an opportunity for
the reorganization Of the marketing Sys-
tenn on Sounder, more stable and more
economic lines. He said frankly that
the board will require funds to accom-
plsh this to aid in creating farmer
owned and farmer-controlled agencies
for variety of purposes, including &C
QUESTION of adequate warehouse facil-
tiles, adequate working capital to be
advanced against commodities placed
in storage, and necessary advances to
be made to corporations owned by
farmers marketing organizations.
The farm board, in the opinion OF the
President, can be of great aid to the
farmers through investigations which
will enable the farmers to eliminate
Improbable marginal lands and their
adoption to other uses and to develop
industrial by-productS.
The President is strongly against any
plan that will result in undermining
the freedom of the farmers or subject
them to bureaucratic and governmental
domination. He is against, too, any
activities which would result in mcreaS-
ing surplus production Of crops. And
wherever private funds are available to
aid the farmer in meeting his problems,
he is opposed to duplication by the
Government.
Progressive Move Praised.
1.-THE most progressive movement In
all agriculture" said the President.
has been the upbuilding OF the farmers
own marketing organizations, which
now embrace nearly 100000 farmers
in membership and annually distribute
nearly $2,5O0,000000 worth of farm
products. These organizations have &C
Quired experience in virtually every
branch of their industry. and furnish
substantial basis upon which to build
further organizations"
Mr. Hoover lays great stress in his
message on the need OF making start
toward the relief of agriculture on more
permanent lines. He says:
Time Needed for Cure.
1.-THE difficulties of agriculture cannot
be cured in a day; they cannot all be
cured by legislation; they cannot be
cured by the Federal Government alone.
But farmers and their organizations
can be assisted to overcome these in
euualities. Every effort of this char
acter is an experiment, and We shall
find from our experience the way to
further advance. We must make a
start
He looks forward to the foundation
of a new day in agriculture which snail
be of benefit to the entire nations. A
perusal Of the message leaves no doubt
of the Presidents earnest desire to aid
agriculture and to place 1t on stable
basis.
Concerning the question Of tariff
revision for industries other than agri-
culture, President Hoover suggests a
limited revision and lays down as a
measure for revision the following test:
Question Of Activity.
''It would seem to me that the test Of
necessity for revision Is in the main
whether there has been q substantial
slackening OF activity in an industry
during the past few years and q conse-
quent decrease of employment due to
insurmountable competition in the prod
ucts of that industry. It Is not as II
we were setting up a new basis OF pro-
tective duties. We did that seven years
ago. What we need 70 remedy now is
whatever substantial loss of employment
may have resulted from shifts since that
time"
Mr.. Hoover points out that in the
main American industry has thrived
RAHN atNaVs vi
act, and for that reason there is no ne
cessity for a general tariff increase all
along the line. Nor does the President
believe it wise in making tariff changes.
to fail to take into account the broad
interest of the country, which include
trade relations with other nations.
1T is obviously unwise protection
which sacrifices a greater amount OF
employment in exports to gain less
amount Of employment from imports"
Discrimination Is Denied.
In the opinion of the President. how
ever no discrimination against any for
eign industry Is involved in equaliZing
the difference in cost of production at
home and abroad land thus taking
from foreign producers the advantages
they derive from paying lower wages TO
labor"
Turning to the administrative features
Of the tariff law, Mr. Hoover urges the
strengthening of the Tariff Commission,
by reorganization and placing 1t upon
a basis of higher salaries. He believes
that the flexible tariff clause of the
present law has proved its value. but
that it be made still more valuable by
the adoption of a different formula
upon which the commission must act
before it submits its reports and recon-
mendations for tariff changes to the
President. He recommends, too, that
Congress provide for sounder basis
of valuation when 1t comes to levying
the tariffs upon imports.
The Presidents message contains no
brand-new suggestions with regard to
farm relief. But 1t does set forth
clearly the situation which confronts
the farmers and the imperative need OF
governmental aid. And it does give
definite lines to the program Of relief.
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