The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-04-26
Pres Hoovers Message to Special Session Of Congress

our farmers and of our people as a Dureau0I1'
governmental domination and interference We N
mt undermine initiative. There should be no lee VI
tax imposed upon the farmer No governmental agency
should engage in the buying and selling and price
fixing of products for such can lead only 70
bureaucracy and domination Government funds shouu
not be loaned or facilities duplicated where other ser
vices of credit and facilities available at reason
able rates. No activities should be set in motion that
will result in increasing the surplus production as
such will defeat any plans of relief
SUBSTANTIAL BASIS FURNISHED
The most progressive movement in all agriculture
has been the upbuding Of the farmers own marketing
organizations, which embrace nearly zVOO'OOV
farmers in membership and annually distribute near
Nv $780, 900 worth of farm products Ihese or
carnations furnish substantial basis upon which to
build further organization In order to strengthen and
not to undermine them all proposals for government
al assistance should originate with such organizations
and be the result of their application Moreover Oy
such bases of organization the government will be re-
moved from engaging in the business of agriculture.
The difficulties of agriculture cannot be cured in
day they cannot all be cured by egslaton they can
not sbe cured by the federal government alone but
farmers and their organizations can be assisted 70
overcome these inequalities. Every effort of this
character is an experiment. and shall find from
our experience the way to further advance. We must
make a start With the creation of a great lnstru-
mentality of this character of strength and import
ance equal to that of those which have created fof
TRANSPORTATION and banking, give immediate assur
ance of the determined purpose of the government to
create an agency through which constructive action
for the future will be assured.
NEW DAY IN AGRICULTURE
In this treatment of this problem recognize the
responsibility of the people whole and we shall
lay the foundations for day in agriculture, from
which shall preserve to the nation the great values
of its individuality and strengthen whole national
fabric.
In considering the tariff for other industries than
agriculture we find that there have been economic
shifts necessitating readjustment of of the
tariff schedules Seven years of experience under the
tariff bill enacted in 1922 have demonstrated the wis
dom of congress in the enactment of that measure.
On the whole it has worked well. In the main our
wages have been maintained at high levels; our ex-
ports and imports have steadily increased; with some
exceptions manufacturing industries have been
prosperous Nevertheless economic changes have ia
ken place which have placed certain domestic pro-
ducts at disadvantage and new industries have
come into being, all of which creates the necessity
for limited changes in the schedules and in the
administrative clauses of the laws as written in 1922
TEST OF NECESSITY FOR REVISION
It would seem to that the test of necessity fol
revision is in the main whether there has been sub
stantial sackening of activity in industry during
the last few years, and consequent decrease of en-
Payment due to nsurmountable competition in The
products of that industry 1t is not if were
setting up basis of protective duties. We die
that seven, years ago. What need to remedy nov
is whatever substantial loss of employment may have
resulted from shifts since that time
No discrimination against any foreign country i
involved in equalizng the difference in costs of pro
ducton at home and abroad Indeed such equalization
is not only of social justice at home, bu
by the list it gives to standards of living, in
crease the demand for those goods from abroad tina
we do not ourselves produce. The cheapening of tn
uoer decreases rather than promotes permanen
prosperity because it reduces the consuming power
the people.
We must not fail to take into account the broa
interests of the country whole, and such interest
include trade relations with other countries. 1t
obviously unwise protection which sacrifices great
amount of employment in exports to gain les
amount of employment from imports.
WOULD SPREAD FLEXIBLE BENEFITS
I am impressed with the fact that we also nee
important revision in some of the administrative pha
of the tariff. The tariff commission should be r.
organized and placed upon basis of higher salar
in order that may at all times command men
the broadest attainments Seven years of experen
have proved the principle of flexible tariff to be pra
teal, and in the long view most important prncp
to maintain. However, the basis upon which the tart
commission makes its recommendations to the pres
dent for administrative changes in the rates of du
should be made more automatic and more compr
hensve to the end that the time required for dete
limitations by the tariff commission shall be great
shortened. The commissions very purpose is defeat
by delays I believe a formula can be found that W
insure rapid and accurate determination of need
changes in rates.
Furthermore, considerable weaknesses on the adm
istrative side of the tariff have developed especia
in the valuations for assessments of duty There &
cases of undealuations that are difficult to disco,
without access of the books of foreign manufacture
which they are reluctant to offer This has become
so great source of friction abroad There is incre
ing shipments of goods consignment particula
by foreign shippers.