Evening star., 1930-12-16
ASK INVESTIGATORS
:. FOR GRAIN MARKET
Department of Agriculture
Advocates Expansion of
Control Powers.
BY the Associated Press.

1
An enlarged flying squadron OF con-
hdential inquirers to track down and
prepare to prosecute those responsible
for irregular transactions on the coun-
trys grain markets is desired by the
Department of Agriculture.
This was revealed today when the
Agriculture Departments supply bill
was reported to the House, accompanied
by the transcript of hitherto secret
hearings of the House Appropriations
Committee.
It was one of the myriad activities Of
| the departments branches upon which
experts testified DR.. w. T. Duvel, chief
| of the Grain Futures Administration,
advocated authority for the Secretary Of
| Agriculture to control short selling OF
grain by foreign governments con-
sequence of the recently disclosed Rus
sian transactions in the Chicago pit.
He said it was essential to keep tab
more closely on exchange brokers' and
commission merchants activities to pre-
vent irregularities in handling Gus
toners accounts.
Prosecutions Are Mentioned.
The departments program declared
1t most important" that studies Of
grain prices, including stock market in
fluences, other commodity markets, Wis
ible supply, grain movements and other
factors, both domestic and foreign, be
extended far beyond the capacity of the
present organization.
Numerous cases of irregularities have
already been uncovered" said Duvel,
which require further action by the
department. The very nature of this
work makes 1t essential that the de-
partment continue to take immediate
action on all complaints that appear
justified, and to follow through with the
most important cases."
The oficial specifically asked funds
for special Investigations, mainly in
Chicago, and the prosecutions which
will result"
Other activities reported by the de-
partment's workers ranged from studies
on the use of turpentine in making
shatter-proof glass to road building.
Synthetic CamphOr Possible.
DR.. w. w. Skinner, chemical tech
nologist, said the right type of turpen-
tine Is sought to be turned into syn
thetic camphor, which in turn becomes
celluloid. Placed between two panes
it gives the shatter-proof glass for auto
mobiles.
IF the turpentine research succeeds" 1"
he added, II see no reason why a syn
thetic camphor industry should not
develop in the South"
The stretching network Of airways
on the continent and in the territories
has put the burden of furnishing round
the clock information on flying condi-
tions up to the Weather Bureau.
So that speeding pilots may take their
cargoes of humans and mail safely
through stormy nights and befogged
days, the bureau, its official told Con-
gress, is planning hourly information
service over airways aggregating $4,000
miles. The work will cost a maximum
of $50 mile.
Fertilizer Study Under Way.
Investigations designed to cut the
farmers annual fertilizer bill by $780,
900 900 were outlined by DIR. Henry @.
Knight, chief of the Chemistry and
Soils Bureau. Raw fertilizer materials
cost $116, 900 900 year, he said. adding
that by q new blaSt-furnace smelling
process, the department forecasts q saw
ing Of $17,000,000 on potash, plus $43,-
000, 900 on phosphoric acid.
Substantial progress was reported In
curbing tuberculosis among cattle,
SWINE dnO pOuICryA
DR.. John r. Mohler, chief of the AMI
NAL Industry Bureau, said the disease
had been eradicated to the point of less
than one-half of / per cent in many
parts Of the United States. However,
he added, 1t exists to some extent among
poultry in the Middle Western and
North Central States.
The departments Bureau of Dairy
Industry has found a new sweet sugar
can be produced from cows milk.
Sugar Found In SKINNED Milk.
Millions of pounds of SKINNED milk,
going to waste, contain sugar that can
be extracted said o. E. Reed, chief of
mentS are being carried on to learn
what effect the milk sugar will have on
diet of humans.
visitor from the Argentine, which
has struck up friendship with a long
time resident Of the United States, will
cost the Federal Government plenty
next year.
The mealy bug Is the resident and it
has been playing milk cow for the
Argentine ant, which DR.. c. L. Marlatt,
chief OF the Bureau Of Entomology, said
has become such an increasingly seri-
Gus menace in the South that it now
presents very acute problem"
Referring to the tobacco moth, he
said an experimental vacuum store
house may have to be constructed be-
fore satisfactory way Of getting rid Of
it can be found.
Farmers are to get many thousands
OF dollars worth of Federal protection
from cotton insects during the next
fiscal year, Mr.. Marlatt testified.
Seek Boil Worm Parasites.
Flowing and irrigation were the best
methods for controlling the pink boil
worm, he said with the plowing best
done in the late Fall or Winter
While saying parasites to the pink
bollworm had not been developed sue
cessfully he added, the hope that sue
ceSsful propagation in American soil
will yet be secured
Most Of the Mediterranean fruit fly
research work in Florida has ceased, but
the Agriculture Department intends to
increase its efforts to learn more about
the Oriental fruit moth, he said.
A 1913, ,201-mile ribbon of roads was in
ciuded In the approved Federal-aid-
highway system on the first day of this
month.
Thomas H. Macdonald, chief of the
Bureau of PUBLIC Roads. said that of
the complete system, 87,540 miles had
been improved by December l. More
than 10000 miles were under way, and
] ,548 miles had been approved for con-
struction.
l.