Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17

these hazards, as business men now in
sure against risks In other forms OF
business. At the present time, how
ever, there is no adequate information
| with which to measure these hazards
for the making Of insurance rates. In
order to meet this defect in our infor-
nation 1 have had before the Senate
a measure providing for careful study
of the hazards in growing crops in the
various sections of the country and the
| feasibility of writing insurance protec-
| ton against such hazards. On the basis
of such information, 1t should be pos
sible for the commercial insurance
agencies successfully to write general
crop insurance which would be of great
benefit in reducing the hazards in ag-
riculture. Such information, too, might
indicate the feasibility of crop reinsur-
ance by either commercial or Govern
ment agencies.
Taxation Commented Upon.
"Our consideration of longtime
program for agriculture would not be
complete without a reference to the
farm taxation situation. Taxes are now
unbearably oppressive on farm lands in
most sections of the country. Some
thing must be done to shift this burden
from the shoulders Of producers.
Whether this is accomplished through
greater economies in the expenditure OF
State and local revenues, the increase
In the size of the taxing unit or the
opening up of new sources Of revenue,
1t is a problem that must be seriously
reckoned with in any solution OF the
present difficulties of farmers. Since
most taxes paid by farmers are collect
ed by State and local units, relief must
come through legislative. action by the
States.
I'm my opinion the ultimate solution
Of the perplexing problem Of farm re-
lief involves these longtime phases
which have Just discussed, as well as
the immediate one Of emergency legis-
lation which Congress has been called
in special session to consider, and which
indisputably constitutes our country's
jor economic problem.
without question, tariff bill FASH
toned adequately to protect the pro-
ducers of farm products against ruinous
foreign competition will be passed. as
well as farm bill to provide abundant
funds to assist In the orderly marketing
of the products of the farm through the
fundamentally of a Federal farm board,
but / must not attempt to anticipate
relief the Congress will enact into law,
but I do know that the Congress will
labor with courage and promptitude to
effect sound and satisfactory remedy,
or remedies, conformable to the aspira-
tons OF those engaged In this basic in
6ustry and the wishes of our distin-
guished President, Herbert Hoover"
Senator Smiths Speech.
Senator Smith of South Carolina
said The agricultural problem includes
more difficulties of diverse and differ
ence of character than any problem al
fecting modern civilization, and yet It's
proper solution will benefit more people
and have a far more reaching beneficial
effect than any other possible achieve
ment that can be attained.
Those engaged in agriculture repre-
sent every shade of human intelligence,
as illustrated by the scientific methods
employed by certain individuals and the
Government in our experimental farms
and the most elementary processes still
used
1.-The primary processes OF agrlcul-
tural production are natural altogether.
The presence of heat and moisture and
light and soil is all that is necessary TO
bring about termination end start the
radically from the primary processes
necessary to manufacture. II the soil
naturally be fertile and the seasons
fairly favorable, there Is very little call
for extra intelligence in producing an
average yield. For years the applica-
ton of certain chemicals to depleted
soils has been thoroughly understood;
the process necessary to produce maxi
mum crops on all the various soils Of
America are understood thoroughly; the
production of wheat, corn, cotton, Vege-
tables and truck of all descriptions, Is
thoroughly understood. The different
regions in which the various crops are
grown and where they may be grown
successfully also are thoroughly UNDER
stood.
Stock Raising Cited.
1.-THE same is true of the stock rails
ing industry The methods Of breeding
and feeding of stock also are thoroughly
understood. The effects of weather, OF
course, cannot be anticipated from
year to year. but they are fairly sub
iect to discount. so that the problem
of farm legislation and the unsolved
difficulties lie outside of production.
These differences are as clearly defined
and are as thoroughly understood as are
the processes of production ana Ter
tiliza ton already enumerated but their
solution constitutes the problem.
First. the vast majority OF farmers
mortgage their probable production be-
fore the harvest. The obligations they
assume for means to produce crop
mature when the crop is ready to har-
vest. Therefore sufficient amount OF
their crop must be marketed immedi.
ately to meet the obligations thus ma
turing. From time Immortal the prices
realized are such as to take the entire
crop to meet these obligations, leaving
absolutely no profit and often a deficit.
Thus the farmer begins another
year entirely upon credit and so the
vicious circle has continued until the
vast majority of agricultural lands, the
basis of the maintenance of life IN
America, is mortgaged to its full mar
ket value. AS indicated on account Of
! the financial condition of the individ-
ual farmer and therefore applicable to
the aggregate, the total crop is dumped
on the market through necessity within