Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
BY SENATOR ARTHUR CAPPER.

the farm leaders, the President, the new
Secretary of Agriculture and Congress.
Out of all the constructive thought that
has been given to this problem. and
which will be applied in the next two
months. We should be able to get legis-
lation that will be satisfactory TO the
country and which will produce real
results.
We are especially fortunate, it seems
to me. in having a man of the great
orga nizing ability of President Hoover
as a leader in this movement He is
regarded with profound respect by the
agricultural forces of the country and
there Is every confidence In his interest
in promoting rural life. His wide expe-
rience in solving big problems has been
of great value to the United States on
many occasions in the past and think
we will presently have the best illustra-
ton of all along this line in the help he
will give in putting agriculture, the
Nations greatest business. on profit
able and satisfactory basis.
I find, too, that the appointment of
Arthur NJ Hyde as Secretary of Agri-
culture has encountered great favor over
the country and especially in the Middle
| West, where he Is known the best.
While governor of Missouri he was noted
for his fighting. vigorous championship
of the best interests of agriculture. and
the folks generally believe that he will
continue that plan in the big job he
now has at Washington. forecast that
he will be of tremendous service to the
agricultural forces before the special
session has come to an end.
Hopeful Angles in Outlook.
| So far as the temporary situation goes.
there are some hopeful angles to the
outlook for agriculture this Spring. The
deep freezing of the soil over all of the
Middle West has, of course aided in
releasing more available plant food than
usual and If we have plenty of moisture
| 1929 should be another crop year above
| the average from the standpoint OF
yields. While some reports of Winter
killing of wheat are coming in, it is
evident that the crop got through a
difficult Winter in better condition than
had been expected. In general, live stock
also Wintered we'll and in most places
there is an ample supply of feed to
carry the animals on to grass. And
| the recent increase in the prices of
some farm commodities also has been
helpful The farm price index on Feb
ruary Is was at 1856, an advance of
points in month. At 1856 the index
| is l point above February, 1928. and
the highest February figure since 1926.
| But still these more hopeful signs
! should not prevent us from seeing that
/ agriculture Is still struggling under the
| burden of the surplus, from which there
| will be no escape until more efficient
marketing machinery has been set up.
| Take wheat, for example which is the
most important crop of my home State
Kansas. The farm price did advance
some from January Is to February Is,
but still on February Is 1t was about
10 per cent below that of a year ago.
The price is still too low believe that
more efficient marketing machine can
be developed which will give the pro-
ducers more for their grain and at the
same time not increase the price of
bread to the consumers in the cities. by
taking up the slack in distribution.
Hearings Start Soon.
With a view to determining just what
the technique along that line shall be,
although 1t already is fairly we'll under
stood hearings will be started soon be-
fore the agricultural committees of the
Senate and the House, and it Is hoped
that the proposed legislation will be
taking fairly definite form before Con.
gress meets on April Is. After that the
problems will, of course, be considered
in detail by the Senate and House. And
l think the members will stay with the
job until 1t is finished properly, and
without wasting time with other mat
tiers. This special session has been
called by President Hoover to consider
agriculture and its problems: think
that he will receive real cooperation
from Congress in holding down the dis
cuSsion to those matters, and that the
final plan will be enacted promptly. SO
that in most cases at least it may apply
to the crops of 1929.
While it is not of course, possible to
outline definitely Just what Congress
will do think there are certain broad
principles which will be enacted into
the program. 1t will be designed to
bring about sterilization of the agri-
cultural industry and place the control
Of surplus production in the hands of
producers through more efficient CO.
operative marketing I forecast that it |
also will stimulate the development of
markets for farm products. especially
those of high quality. 1t contemplates
the cooperation OF the Government
with the farmers in this enterprise, not
through subsidies. but through the lend
ing of funds needed in getting the pro-
gram under way. This was done for
the Federal land banks and the inter-
mediate credit banks, and it is logical
and constructive way OF helping the
farmers to solve their surplus market |
ing difficulties Senator McNary's bill. |
introduced at the last session, elim!- |
mating the equalization fee. embodies |
many of the essential features of this |
program.
1t seems to me that there are six es- !
sentialS that Congress will consider in /
working out farm relief plan. OF which |
four are of such nature that they |
can be handled directly by national |
legislation. The aim of the whole effort. |
as see it. is to make agriculture pay |
fair return to the folks who do the |
work; to place farming on basis where |
the producers will have an equal OPP !,
portunity with those engaged in other |
Industries to make their business oper-
atoms profitable. 1t Is not a problem |
of passing the hat for individual farm
erS or for agriculture as a whole. |
Farmers are not asking for that, and
they are not entitled to it,
Agricultural Media
Agricultural needs. so far as Congress
can be of service, include:
/. Higher tariffs on farm products
on an import or marginal import basis,
which will help greatly in providing
protected home market This is. of
course, an involved matter. and there
doubtless will be some discussion in Con-
gress of just the proper advances which
should be made, as there has been al
ready elsewhere, but 1 think 1t will be
an important feature Of the relief pro-
gram. 1t seems to me that butter sup
plies an excellent illustration of a COM
modify which needs a higher tariff.
the situation there being, briefly, that
frequently the tiny imports have huge
on prices in the United States,
when they should have none. But 1t
will do no good to increase the farm
tariffs and then allow corresponding 4
Increase with other products rural folks
must buy. This is no time for general
upward revision of the tariff