Evening star., 1932-09-18

What are the facts? The last yea
of the Underwood bill our export
amounted in round numbers to thre
and one-half billion dollars. our eX
ports for the year ending June 80, 1925
under the 1922 act amounted to NV
billion dollars. Our imports for the las
year of the Underwood act amounted t
two and one-half billion dollars and Il
1929 they amounted to four-and one
quarter billion dollars.
Views of Farm Leaders.
So you see there was an increase II
our foreign trade. What about rev
enues produced? In 1922 they amount
ed to $3.50, ,000, 900 and in 1929 to 5000,
100000. So you see the Governor
mistaken about the effect Of the Nc
Cumber act on our foreign trade. Will
on this subject would it not be well t.
see what the farm leaders and repre-
sentatives said about the preparation o
the McCumber bill.
Among these 26 measures was on
introduced by me. It authorized tn
Government to invest $50,000,000 t.
help the Federal land banks.
The following is what Mr.. Lever ha,
to say about its Importance:
Federal Farm Loan Board.
washington, D. c., June 27, 1921.
my Dear Senator Curtis:
II believe as a Democratic MEM
ber of the Farm Loan Board and as
one who served with you in Con-
gress for many years and who has
watched your work in the Senate,
that I may be pardcned If I express
to you my appreciation of the serv-
ice you have rendered agriculture in
a large way, and of the skillful
manner in which you have done it.
Il can hardly conceive of any
thing YOU might have done which is
going to have such far-reaching and
lasting beneficial effect upon the
agricultural situation now and in the
future.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) "A. F. LEVER"
am sorry to say that many Of thes
26 measures were disappointing and di,
not give the relief so greatly needle,
and deserved by agriculture. The tarif
act did help materially because tn
first year after its enactment the i'm
portation of agricultural products de
creased more than billion dollars.
Federation Sends Letter.
The following is what the Presiden
OF the American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton had to say about the tariff act
passed in 1922:
American Farm Bureau Federation,
Chicago, ILL.,, September 20, 1922.
Honorable Charles Curtis.
Washington. D. c.
my Dear Senator:
''On behalf Of the American Farm
Bureau Federation allow me to eX-
tend to you our sincere gratitude
and appreciation Of your efforts in
defense of the agricultural industry
IN framing a tariff law that more
nearly places agriculture on plane
with other industries than ever had
been done before.
1T has been the aim and pur-
pose Of this organization to furnish
the various individuals and commit
tees OF Congress accurate and re-
liable information concerning various
agricultural products being con-
sidered. This has been done In the
majority OF cases by specialist
upon each commodity. employed by
this organization. We appreciate
fully every courtesy shown all our
various representatives.
We are asking no special favors
for agriculture. no class of legisla-
ton. but simply to be placed on a
par with other great industries of
our Nation, and II Is for your efforts
to attain this high position for agri-
culture that I again sincerely thank
p you. Very Truly Yours,
American Farm Bureau Federation.
(Signed) u. R. Howard, President"
Mr.. Charles w. Holman. secretary @
the National COOPERATIVE Milk Pro
ducers' Federation. made an addres
last February, before the American
Academy Of Political and Social Science
on the subject, The American Farme
and the Tariff" Among other thing.
he said:
THE growing need for farm rep
resentation in tariff making was re-
fected in the activities of certain
farm organizations while the Ford
ney-McCumber tariff act of Septem-
per. 1922. was in the making"
Ihese letters and reports of tn
American Farm Bureau are suficien
answers to the complaint of Go,
Roosevelt as to the manner In whicI
the tariff rates on farm products wer
placed In the tariff acts Of 1922-193O.
Equality Attempted.
In tariff legislation the farm organ
lzations have insisted that agricultur
be put on an equality with other in
dustrles. This was attempted in tn
act of 1880, as is shown by the fol
lowing:
The increases in tariff are largel
directed to the interest of the farmer
OF the increases, it is stated by tn
Tariff Commission that 1913 per cen
are upon products of agricultural origil
measured in value, as distinguishe,
from 6.25 per cent upon commoditie
Of strictly non-agricultural origin.
The average rate upon agriculture
raw materials shows an increase from
1910 per cent to 1892 per cent, IL
contrast to dutiable articles of strictl
other than agricultural origin. whicl
show an average increase of from 81 o.
per cent to 34.31 per cent.
Compensatory duties have necessaril
been given on products manufacture,
from agricultural raw materials an,
protective rates added to these in som
instances.
The extent of rate revision, as indi
Gated by the Tariff Commission, is tina
in value of the total imports the dutie
upon approximately 22.5 per cent hav
been increased and IT'S per cent wer
untouched or decreased.
BY number of the dutiable item
mentioned in the bill, out Of the tota
of about $500 there were about 89
increased, 235 decreased and 2,170 un
touched. The number of items in
creased was therefore q per cent of al
dutiable items and compares with 8
per cent of the number of items whicl
were increased in the 1922 revision.
Quotes Farm Bureau Report.
The following is what the American
Farm Bureau Federation said in it
report of June 81, 1880:
Stating this differently It means
that when the farmers welfare is
considered not only from the rates