Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-05-18


plants as the center.
The special session has worked at
top speed Seldom has so much been
accomplished, If the measure be by vol
ume, as has resulted from the lahors
of congress under the lash and COM
plete domination of President Roose-
welt. But we are concerned now with
an aftermath, with continuing force.
Hence, the two enactments mentioned
stand out, for the effect of the farm
bill will be direct and that of the Ten
nessee river experiment may mark an
economic milestone In the nations his
tory.
President Roosevelt declined to as
sure success for the farm BILL He
termed 1t gigantic experiment. an
effort offered In search Of relief for
downtrodden agriculture, hope for
better conditions. The so-called Mus
Gle Shoals legislation Is experimental
by Its own language.
The provision OF the farm bill dele
eating to the President authority to
use infiatIonary measures with the
currency Is. of course, Vital to every
one. IT has been analysed In this col
nmn heretofore and while every one Is
interested In what the President may
do with those powers, 1t does not par
take of the same conditions or circum-
stances as the farm or Muscle Shoals
legislation.
While each OF these measures Is de-
signed to aid agriculture, there L. q
| point Of striking dissimilarity be-
tween them. The farm relief measure
Is designed to have an immediate eff
| feet No such thought Il entertained
| respecting the Muscle Shoals develop
| ment proposal. Its purpose Is pre-
/ @dieated-nn a belief by those who fes-
tered 1t TINT 1t will be Of lasting hene-
fit to the human race. II the theories
prove workable and nartially-tried
plans can be carried on to successful
/ conclusion, the hope doubtless can be
/ realized.
/
President Roosevelt told congress
| when he asked enactment of the farm
relief bin that he
A NeU and deemed 1t emergent
! Untrod Path " necessary to take
constructive steps
In aid OF agriculture. sss,.a5
deep study and the Joint counse
of many points of view" the Presi
dent said. "have produced a measure
which offers great promise Of good re
suits. | tell you frankly that 1t is {
new and nntrod path, but | tell yot
with equal frankness that an I'm
precedented condition calls for TIL,
trial Of new means to rescue agricul
\ ture."
| The President added that II 1t failet
to develop those results II will be tn,
first to acknowledge 1t and advis,
you.' 1t appears then as hope. WI
are starting on a new road
The first principle of the bill Is mos
peculiar. 1t would have cotton~farm
ers purchase aforementioned cottol
at the present market price to what
ever extent they will do so and reduc
their acreage this year In accordanc
with the amount 80 bought by then
and which will be held by the secre
tary of agriculture In trust for tn
purchasers until 1885, II they desire
The purchases therefore can be mad
on credit
The purpose of this, of course, is t
reduce production and thereby reduc
the surplus In one and the same cor
! tract The farmers cannot buy tn
government cotton without there bein
q resulting decrease in acreage. Sin
ply stated, then, this principle Is dt
signed to shorten the supply and caus
an Increase In price. OF course, til
farmer takes the chance that Their
will be no increase In price. but her
again. 1t Is "a new and untrod path
and that chance may win.
The second section of the measur
has been attacked by its critics q
"robbing Peter to pay Paul" 1t give
the secretary Of agriculture authorit
to lease agricultural lands. pa,
Ing the owner agreed sums as renta
to accomplish a reduction In ncreae
by removing those lands from Gro
productive use. That, as Is readll
discernble, will be an expense,
proposition. The government coul
not do 1t without having funds CON
from somewhere to make such pa
ments. So the sponsors Of the bin lal
tax on the professors Of agricultur
commodities to obtain needed revenu
1t hardly need be said that II
processors-the packer of meats, Il
= miller of -four, the sPinneFs OF eotte
etc.-are going to fight this Section.
Then, this complex piece OF legisl
ton also provides for use OF the allie
ment plan, nnd 9th
Consumers taxes on the pr
vvr.yY ppcc0rc and ncp