The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-09
Congressman Jones Says Hid
Plan Il Emergency to Run
For Short Time
~ REP. MARVIN JONES
Chairman q the Committee On ASri.
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NJ WGke N2A8vkN JONES
Chairman ol the Committee On Agti.
culture, House q Representatives.
written for The Tribune)
We, - Americans, are unwilling
victims OF the strangest famine ever
recorded In the annals Of civilization.
Barns are bursting with plenty, and
yet millions Of hungry people are
walking the streets Of our cities. The
farmer cannot sell at q living price
and in many instances the man In
the city cannot purchase at any price.
It Is clear that something must be
done.
The National Emergency Act" or
farm allotment plan," which have
already described, Is wholly an emer-
|gency measure designed to meet the
present crisis. Under the terms Of
the bill this plan would run for one
year and could be extended to two
years by proclamation Of the presi-
dent.
This measure Is BY no means the
sole remedy needed for the present
situation. Not only must the farm.
er's buying power be increased i'm
mediately to . ratio commensurate
with his pre-war buying power, but
this ratio Of fair exchange must be
continued permanently.
Further legislation Of . long-range
nature Is needed to remove all the
determinations from which the farm
er now suffers and place agriculture
on q stable basis.
CITES UNFAIR TAKES
There are several contributing
causes to the present condition Of the
farmers. These include discrimination
through unfair trade barriers, dis
elimination In our freight-rate struc-
ture, . medium Of exchange that
doesn't truly measure values and q
tax system that bears too heavily on
the farm and ranch.
Nobody realizes any better than
the farmer that the American dollar
today does not truly measure the val
ue Of commodities. Translated into
farm production, the farmers dollar
viii buy now only half Of what 1t
would buy . few years ago. It Is
manifestly impossible for the farmer
to pay debts that were created over
the past few years with dollars carved
out Of our present economic struc-
ture. The obligation to pay these
debts with high-priced dollars gain
ed from low-priced farm products Is
responsible for great deal Of the
trouble from which this country Is
suffering.
Every thinking person believes in
sound currency. But there must be
sound way to stabilize the value Of
our medium Of exchange 90 that It
will not produce the wreckage Of val
ues all over the country. Such . pro-
gram should be worked out by those
who have studied our money system.
The necessity Of refinancing farm
mortgages generally Is recognized by
all. A reamortization Of these farm
mortgages on the basis Of longtime
payments with low rates Of interest
must be accomplished before there +
complete recovery.
CALLS TARIFFS Unequal
Taxes bear too heavily on the farm
and ranch. In many sections during
the past few years the return from
the farm has not been sufficient to
pay the actual tax levy on the prop
erty itself. A shifting Of these bur-
dens. as well as reduction Of gov
ernmental expenses and leves-na-
tional, state and locals very much
to be desired.
For many years the manufacturing
interests Of America have been work
ing under q banner OF tariff protec-
ton. Behind the tariff wall they
have prospered through the medium
Of increased prices, while the farm
er has had very little protection. The
farmer has been obliged to buy In q
protected market, while at the same
time he has had to sell largely In q
free world market.
longtime application Of this dis
elimination has resulted in an un'
balanced condition, which threatens
the entire economic structure.
Another discrimination Is the prac'
tice Of allowing reduced freight rates
Oh many manufactured articles when
they are to be shipped abroad. Fol
instance, when manufactured 1roI
and steel products are sent from
Pittsburgh to New York for domestk
use, the rate Is SO cents per l0(
pounds: when intended for shipment
abroad the rate Is only 20h cents