Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
WRG|N|AN HITS
FARM LOAN PLANS
Deal Declares His State Is
Able to Take Care of
Own Citizens.
BY JOHN T. LTPsCoMB.

Declaring that Virginia is financially
able to take care of itself, Representa-
live Joseph T. Deal, second district of
Virginia, In an address on the floor of
the House Friday launched an impas-
stoned protest against the Common
wealth participating in the proposed
loan by the Federal Government Of
Sc, 100000 to certain South Atlantic
States to be allocated for the purchase
Of seeds and fertilizers for certain peo-
pie who have suffered from national
disaster"
The measure, which authorizes the
loan and which is known as Senate joint
resolution 1872, was characterized by
Mr.. Deal as unconstitutional. 1t has
passed both houses Of Congress but
has not yet been signed by the PreSi-
dent.
Declares State Progressive.
Mr.. Deal declared that he could see
no justification for placing Virginia in
the column of supplicant States in view
Of the fact that the press Of the State
lis almost daily expressing to the pub
lie the great progress and development
and prosperity existing within the past
few years"
During the recent past" the speaker
NOAASAA0CNI 11d0 ONNdSAOAA W 4AAFCopA-
gate the material development of our
State in the decades from 1900 to 1920,
in which I had recourse to the United
States census reports and financial
statistics of the States, published by
the Departments of Commerce and
Treasury. and taking into conSidera-
ton all natural resources, which form
the basis for wealth, it was found that
by comparison that of all the States in
the Union, Virginia stood thirteenth in
the percentage of accumulated wealth.
She stands tenth among the States IN
the volume of money contributed to-
ward the support of the National Gov
eminent. From the standpoint OF ef-
ficiency and economy she stood twenty
eighth among the States of the Union
in the per capita of revenue levied for
the support of the State government,
including highway construction. In the
matter of educational facilities al
forded to our children in the year
1926, she stood sixteenth among the
States in the volume Of money in
vested in school plants: that Is to say,
in land, buildings, and equipment, 1r-
respective of size or wealth, and in the
volume of money appropriated for
maintenance she stood fourteenth"
Admitting that agriculture In Viz
ginia in common with other States has
suffered during the past few years be-
cause of the fact that farm products
have not advanced in prices proper
tional to other production, Mr.. Deal, de-
clared that intelligent and consistent
land improvement by the farmers of
the State have led to higher per cent
of yield, which has in a large measure
offset the increased cost. Virginia,
therefore, cannot and has not made
any claim as a pauper State" he said.
Cites Constitution.
Expressing the belief that those who
voted for the measure did so with the
idea that 1t would come within the gen.
eral welfare clause of the Constitution,
although it applies to certain individual
States, Mr. Deal said:
I'm view of the consistent attitude
OF Virginia's representation since the
foundation of our Government, that we
adhere to q strict Interpretation OF the
Constitution with respect to the dele
gated powers, and the claim that the
general-welfare clause Is limited by the
specific explanations as to the meaning
of to pay the debts and for the COM
mon defense and general welfare OF
the United States set forth in section
8, article /, of the Constitution. 1t Is
inconceivable to me that we should at
this late day, without cause or reason,
recede from our time-honored position
and ask to be participants in looting
the Treasury of the United States. In
1887 Grover Cleveland. Democratic
President, whose memory We revere.
vetoed similar bill providing Federal
aid for the purchase Of seed for the re-
lief of certain drought-stricken areas IN
Texas.