Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-05-25

In farm relief is under way at last
Already, regulations
Farm Relief and policies are lssu-
Machinery ing from the Office
of George N. Peek,
administrator OF the agricultural adj
justment net, In quantity and conn
plexity equalled only by those pro-
mulgated for enforcement of prohibi-
ton. They are the work of a dozen
or so of men who are designated as.
experts, and the concensus AROUND
Washington is that only experts are
going to comprehend them fully.
President Roosevelt and every one
else is hoping the law will rescue agri-
culture and construct d firm founda-
tlon for the entire economic structure
of the country. To help attain success,
the President called Mr.. Peek away
from his vash implement manufacture
ing business at Moline, Ill. to take
charge. Mr.. Peek Is sympathetic with
agriculture In every respect. He real
lies, for example, that agriculture
must prosper or his plants are going
to be idle. He will sell no fafm ma
chinery. So the law will be admins
tered at the top by friend.
But MS the machinery for admins
tering the act is developed. 1t becomes
painfully apparent that the danger lies
not In what goes on here in Washing
ton with respect to 1t. The fear Is
held by many supporters of the law
that the small army needed to carry
its provisions Into effect will be the
breeding spot for trouble. However
intensive Is the desire to get the best
out of the law, there Is bound to be
varied construction of its terms and
the regulations promulgated under 1t.
1t Is humanity impossible to have 1t
otherwise, and there are plenty OF
nrecedents In the administration OF
other federal laws that have attempted
to 20 too near the Individual citizen.
Then, probably there will be mistakes
In honest judgment and little graft
as we'll. 1t has happened In other laws
dealing with individuals. This one
presents brand new opportunities In
that direction.
The Department Of Agriculture is
striving, however. to acquaint the
country with facts as to what the law
means how 1t operates and what 1t
proposes to do. 1t Is seeking the CO.
operation Of all. Without cooperation,
success Is likely to be limited. The
department, therefore, Is seeking to
| have the farmers understand the neces-
sity for the statute in advance of ap,
| pointment Of the vast personnel that
will be needed to reach Into every coun-
| ty where agriculture predumfnates. II
| that can be accomplished, 1t Is argued
the agents of the government will have
something with which to work wher
| they Interview farmers concerning
| their willingness to Join In reducing
acreage. 1t Is by reduction of acreage
of course, that the main profit for tht
| farmer Is expected. That Is the way
| 1t is figured to force prices higher,
Secretary Wallace and Mr.. Peek AM
others connected with the job here II
Washington have been holding confer
enees with representatives of pro
ducers, of professors (those who grln'
the wheat or spin the cotton. etc. ant
other agencies. The professors are III
rectly concerned, for they are going t
be taxed In several ways to Obtain
funds for payment to the farmers VIII
agree to reduce production. That !
one way of creating what the bill call
price parity. The main purposes 0
these conferences have been to gai
the facts concerning the amount pre-
duced, how and where 1t Is sold, an
basic information that will serve a
guide for laying the tax.
While the section of the farm relie
act relating to mortgages and method
of refinancing theI
See Hope in may not awaken th
Bond issue interest general
that the other pal
of the measure does, 1t seems to m
that the provision enabling the Fee
eral Land banks to issue S. 100000
worth Of new bonds holds forth muc
more promise. The federal govern
ment guarantees the interest on thes
bonds, and the proceeds of them wi
be used to make new mortgages or r
finance. existing mortgages on far
lands.
The Federal Land banks are a.
, thorized to buy outstanding mortgage
from the present holders. or to e
change the new bonds for them, bl
the law specifies that this must
done ION the best possible terms I'll
plain meaning of this is that the lar
banks must seek to force scallT
down of the debt wherever possibl
, 1t Is believed by many persons tn
holders of mortgages on which the !
terest has not been paid and on whit
perhaps installments are overdue, W
BIZ willing to reduce the amount
the debt In order to dispose OF Il
!. mortgage. In other words, the hold
OF a $1,000 mortgage that Is delinque
Ia considered as likely to accept som
: thing less than that amount IL he &c