The Bismarck tribune., 1929-04-04
Tariff Revision, Farm Board,
Export Dehenture, Land Pol.
!! icy, and Water Named
TARIFF HEART OF PROBLEM
Seeks Full Equality, but Will
| Cooperate II Debenture
Plan Is Refused

essary to secure adequate agricul-
tural relief were laid before the house
agriculture committee today by L. J.
raber, OF Columbus. Ohio, master OF
The national Grange.
These, were agricultural tariff re-
vision, 4 federal farm board. the ex-
port -debenture or drawback plan to
bring benefits to exportable farm
q sound land policy and
waterway development and organ
Ization, cooperation and efficient pro.
duction.
Agriculture is entitled to the same
measure of protection that other
groups enjoy" said Taber. "A study
Of the workings Of the tariff act In
dicates an average ad valorem pro-
lection OF 42.6 per cent on all the
other schedules excepting agricul-
tural products and provisions, which
show but 22.54 per cent. In addition.
it must be remembered that many
farm products are now on the free
list that should be protected. Agri-
cultural imports have increased IN
volume until We are now practically
1mpOrLlng our surplus.
Agree on Farm Board
There seems to be universal agree
ment that there should be created q
federal farm board with broad powers
to deal with the problem Of market
ing, distribution and surplus control.
Such a board could clso be OF service
in setting up sterilization corpora
tions and dealing with unexpected
emergencies in agriculture.
Unless tariff benefits are brought
to those branches Of our agriculture
In which there Is q surplus, there can
be no complete equality TOR the farm
er. just .as thesdrawback permits the
American manufacturer to pay q
tariff on raw material and yet hold
| the export Inafk6t, so the export
dehenture will permit the American
farmer to manufacture farm prod
ucts in a protected market, pay tariff
costs on his raw material and yet
compete in the world market.
1T must not be forgotten that the
exportable surplus Is the consumers
guarantee in case Of shortage or cror
| failure.
Need Sound Land Policy
America needs q sound land policy
There should be no exploitation ol
speculation in land development. 1r.
rigation and reclamation should bs
used as q balance wheel to bring lane
under cultivation as increased pro
duction or changed market needs de-
mand.
millions Of acres Of sub margina
land should be utilized for forestr!
as q good investment for the govern
ment and as q protection for cominl
generations. The government shoult
increase its public park and play
ground acreage"
Taber said his organization has N
sympathy with any program tina
sought to prevent the farmer from
producing q surplus. Such pro
gram he considered q danger to tn
consumer.
i Tariff Problems Heart
The heart Of the problem, he sale
would be reached by revising tn
tafif on farm products. the creatio
Of Z farm board and the adoption q
tome plan such as the debenture pla
to make the tariff benefits effectiv'
Il He added In response to Represent
alive Aswell. Democrat, Louisiana
that while the Grange sought fu
equality, 1t would 'go along" with tn
president and congress II the measuI
did not carry the debenture plan.
Don't you know that the bill WI
not contain the debenture planl
asked Representative Ktnchelo
Democrat, Kentucky.
I'm an optimist," replied Taber.
Minneapolis Man Appears
II A Minneapolis grain dealer pr
sented . general farm relief progra
which he said he hoped would p'
2 firms such Is his out Of business.
The witness was Frederick B. Wei
and his views, he said, represented
! general way the Views OF the gra
I markets Of Chicago. New York. s
Louis. Kansas City. Minneapolis ai
: Duluth.
The program he outlined follow
. generally the suggestions for far
E relief laid down by President Hoov
in his campaign speeches and tho
! given the committee yesterday
4 Secretary Hyde.
4 Wells Plan General s
The Wells plan submitted to 4
house committee cgied for creattl
= Of q federal farm board; assi6tan