Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-30
MONTGOMERY GETS
TALK ON FARM AID.
Senator Barley and Speaker
Lee Heard at Rockville
Meeting.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

9peClal DlSpetCn 10 Inc 6taE'
ROCKVILLE, Md, January 30.-In
IN address at the tenth annual meeting
Of the Montgomery County Farm Bu-
reau in the courthouse here yesterday
which was attended by more than 300
of the county's leading farmers and
CairymeE and the wives and daughters
of not few of them, Senator Alben W.
Barley OF Kentucky predicted that the
problem of agricultural relief would be
solved.
He thought legislation of value might
be enacted at the special session of
Congress expected to be called soon and
declared that he would support any plan
10 aid agriculture no matter from what
source it might emanate.
Senator Barley stressed organiza-
ton as one way in which farmers
might help themselves and pointed out
what cooperation had accomplished for
other industries. The Senator stated
that he had supported the McNary-
Haugen bill, including the equalization
fee feature. He declared agriculture to
be the most dependent of industries
when 1t should be the most independent.
All other industries, he stated, are or
ganiZed.
Lee Discusses Legislation.
Mai. E. Brooke Lee, Speaker Of the
House of Delegates and member of the
Montgomery County delegation in that
body. came over from Annapolis to dis
cuss legislation that is necessary to con-
tinue the county'S advancement. Very
little legislation affecting the county is
contemplated at this session, he said,
because 1t is not necessary. The Legis-
lature OF 1927, he stated. enacted laws
which have had much to do with the
county's existing satisfactory "set-up"
and thought that the present session
should not be asked to do more than
authorize the wise spending OF the
county's additional income.
Maj. Lee referred to the county's re-
markable development along various
lines and declared that the expenditures
authorized by the last Legislature were
amply justified. He pictured the county
as one Of the greatest in the Nation
and declared it was destined to become
the greatest home location in the world.
Maj. Lee denied that taxes in the
county are high. He referred to the
fact that the general tax rate-$l 80 on
each 500 of real estate and personal
property-is the second lowest in the
State. and stated that property on an
average is assessed at not more than
35 or 40 per cent Of its actual value.
He referred to the steadily increasing
land values throughout the county, and
suggested to the farm owners that
sure way for them to make big money
Is to hold their land
Maj. Lee stated that the county's rep
resentatives in the House Of Delegates
would favor authorization Of bond
issues aggregating approximately $2.-
100000 for roads, schools, an adequate
courthouse and enlarged site and to
pay for schools and roads already con-
Structed, and insisted that an increase
in the tax rate would not result from
such expenditures. He referred at
length to the courthouse proposition
and strongly advocated an additional
bond issue Of around 100000 for an
adequate building and more land for
the site
It was thought that the meeting
would be called upon to consider a
resolution favoring authorization by the
Legislature Of an additional bond issue
for the courthouse and site, but the
matter was not taken up.
In addition TO electing board of
directors, consisting Of five at large and
one from each of the Is election dis
trictS of the county and six delegates
W ItpIescHG IHe county at the annual
meeting Of the State Farm Bureau
Federation. the meeting named Mrs.
James D. King of Germantown, chair
man of the home and community COM
mittee, and unanimously adopted a
resolution opposing the bill which has
already passed the House of Represen-
tatives and is now pending in the United
States Senate. provided for the location
of the Wholesale Farmers Market In
Southwest Washington. The resolution
placed the farm bureau as favoring a
site in the Northeast section of the
city.