Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
BY HENRY w. BUM.
following is a brief summary
Of the most important news of
the world for the seven days
ending April 20:


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
On April Is the Seventy-first Congress
convened in extra session.
The following is brief summary OF
what appear to this writer the more
important features of the Presidents
message to Congress:
The special session Is called to re-
deem two pledges given by Mr.. Hoover
during the election campaign-namely,
of farm relief and of limited changes
in the tariff.
The President rehearses the main
causes Of 1.-The difficulties of the agri-
cultural industry" whereof the genel al
result has been that the industry has
not kept pace with our other industries.
The problem is a very complex one
because agriculture, really, Is not one
industry, but embraces a score of in
dustries. The more obvious means of
relief are: Development Of waterway
transportation, readjustments Of the
tariff better understanding of produc-
ton needs and answerable adjustments,
and improvement in marketing methods.
The President does not say so, but he
evidently contemplateS that discussion
of waterways development shall go over
to the regular session. Immediate
changes in the tariff schedules on agri-
cultural products are indicated at once
to protect the farmer in the domestic
market, and to Offset his handicaps in
the foreign markets in competition with
countries which "enjoy cheaper labor
or more nearly virgin Soils" but out
side the farm schedules only limited
changes in the tariff are called for, in
the present session, at any rate.
TN considering the tariff for other
industries than agriculture, we find that
there have been economic shifts, neces-
stating q readjuStment of some Of the
tariff schedules. Seven years Of expert
ence under the tariff bill enacted in
1922 have demonstrated the wisdom of
Congress in the enactment OF that
measure. On the whole, 1t has worked
we'll In the main. our wages have been
maintained at high levels; our exports
and imports have steadily increased;
with some exceptions, our manufactur-
ing industries have been prosperous.
Nevertheless, economic changes have
taken place during that time which
have placed certain domestic products
at a disadvantage and new industries
have come into being, all Of which Gre
ates the necessity for some limited
changes in the schedules and IN the
administrative clauses OF the law as
written in 1922"
The grand task Of the Congress in
the special session is the creation OF an
fundamentally "a Federal farm
hoard'O competent of Reorganization
of the marketing system on sounder
and more stable and more economic
Hines"
"The board will require funds to as
sist in creating and sustaining farmer
owned and farmer controlled agencies
for variety of purposes, such as the
ACQUISITION of adequate warehousing
and other facilities for marketing,
adequate working capital to be ad-
yanced against commodities lodged for
storage, necessary and prudent adj
yances to corporations created and
owned by farmers marketing organiza-
tions for the purchase and orderly
marketing of SURPRISES occasioned by
Climatic variations or by harvest con-
gestion. to authorize the creation and
S,Ipport of clearing houses, especially
For uerishable products, through which,
under producers approval. cooperation
can be established with distributors and
professors to more orderly marketing
of commodities and for the elimination
Of many wastes In distribution and to
provide for licensing of handlers Of
some perishable products SO as to elimi-
nate unfair practices"
Moreover. the board should be Or
ganized to investigate every field OF
Economic betterment for the farmer
SO as to furnish guidance as to needs
in production, to devise methods for
elimination OF Improbable marginal
lands and their adoption TO other uses.