The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-26
Crockett Attacks
Failure of State
Farm Storage Law
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purely for political purposes. This
action might fairly be termed IN ef-
fort to leave the farmer In the hands
Of the old line grain trade.
THE present farm storage law has
been merely q pretense and q sham.
From q practical standpoint 1t has
not been workable and the appropri-
alton made for its maintenance is
money wasted. If this be treason to
an economy administration I hope
Governor Shafer will make the most
of it.
Asks Shafer TO Explain
I'm fact, I think the governor
should. in justice to the farmer. make
some explanation Of his views of tho
farm storage system which he has
advocated and which has proved 20
dismal a failure. II his attitude to-
ward the farmer Is represented by his
conduct Of the farm storage depart
ment of the state government, hts
friendliness to the farmer is q pre-
tense and q sham of the shabbiest
kind.
The bill which I sponsored In the
house and which I asked the house
to defeat after 1t had been amended
provided for q new form Of farm
storage. As introduced 1t would per-
NIT the farmer to store grain on his
farm without charge. The local ele-
vator would inspect the grain and Is
sue a storage ticket. This work would
be done by the elevator free Of charge
providing the farmer agreed to mar
ket the grain through the inspecting
elevator when 1t was removed from
storage. The state railroad board,
which now has jurisdiction over ele-
vatorS and warehouses. would super
wise the elevators In the same manner
as 1t does now and enforce the pro.
visions Of the act.
LAS amended the bill would have
placed administration Of the law in
the hands of the farm storage com-
missioner. The present farm storage
commissioner has made q miserable
failure Of hts Job. The addition Of a
fee would act as q penalty against
the free operation Of the oct.
Was Frankly Experimental
1T "a frankly experimental but
the experiment would have cost the
state nothing. Had It proved Sue
cessful the farmers would have bene-
fitted. ! can only assume that 1t was
petty politics Of the worst sort which
forced the amendment Of this act.
Before my bill was introduced rep
resentatives Of the Farmers Union
discussed the proposal with Governor
shafer. Their original idea was to
amend the present farm storage act
In the manner suggested by my bill.
The governor objected to this but
suggested that q new bill be offered
to meet the Farmers Union ideas.
His idea, at that time, was that the
present system and the proposed
Farmers Union system would oper-
ate side b. side for two years and the
people Of the state would be in posi-
ton to Judge which was best.
IT we Judge by what happened to
the bill We can only assume that the
governor acted In bad faith or that
the members Of the !. v. A. majority
in the house did not agree with him.
At any rate the blame for this fail
ure to meet the needs Of the farmers
must be laid ct the door Of one or
the other"
Says Administration 'Convicted'
In view Of the situation Is 1t stands
now, I feel that the Shafer admins.
tration stands convicted. not only Of
failing to make the farm storage law
which already is on the books OF
benefit to the farmer, but Of refusing
to permit the law to be amended 20
as to make It Of benefit and help
North Dakota farmers to get better
prices for their grain.
How the governor Or the ]. v. A..
majority { 4 protest friendliness for
the farmer Is m individual or to the
Farmers Union Is IN organisation Is
moe than lean perceive.
Maddeck's Statement
In his statement, former Governor
Maddox said:
1T is only reasonable to assume
that the government Of North d.
kota should be willing to cooperate In
every way possible With the Farmers
National Grain corporation, the Farm
Board and other agencies set up BY
the federal government In its farm
relief plan.
MI. Croskett's bill WAS approved BY
attorneys &C. tho Farmers National
Grain cooperation and tho Farm
Board ant was an integral part Of
the system which It proposes to keep
grain OF the market and On the farm
until It can be marketed In IN Or
derby manner.
II am g~rievously disappointed that
the legislature OF . state - strongly
agricultural Is North Dakota Is, did
not see fit to give it, cooperation to
this effort to assist tho farmer In .
matter o: vital Importance 10 him.
The farm Beard and the Farmers