Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-04-25
OBSERVATIONS
BY Cong. ELMER ]. RYAN

1t is predicted that prices Of dairy
products will show considerable in
crease this year due to shortage
caused by the drouth.
Low prices in 1888 prompted the
73rd Congress to institute an investi-
cation of unfair and monOpOlistic
trade practices of milk distributors.
On April 5, the Federal Trade Com
mission submitted to Congress pre-
liminary report on this investigation.
Because only 100000 had been ap-
propriated for this purpose, the in
vestigation was limited to two milk
shed areas, Connecticut and Phila-
delphia.
Considerable evidence of price fix
ing. under payment to producers, crea-
tion of artificial SURPRISES and other
abuses working against the producers
ton. Correspondence found by men,
bers of the commissions staff in the
files of one of the Philadelphia Com
panies indicated that price agree
ments similar to those in the areas
investigated are in effect in other
areas.
In 1888 the total estimated gross
income from farm products was
$685., ZOO, 900. Dairy products &C
counted for $1,263,0OO,OOO or approx
imately 21% which is more than the
total value of the grain, cotton and
cotton seed produced in that year in
this country.
The preliminary report reveals that
during the six years from 1929 to
1884, the National Dairy Products Cor
poration received from its two sub
salaries in the Philadelphia area ap-
proximately $27,5OO,OOO in dividends
representing more than 1910 of it's in
vestment in the two Philadelphia COM
panies.
If such conditions exist throughout
the country, in an industry as i'm
portant to the farmer as the dairy
industry, it would seem deplorable If
this investigation is not completed.
Temporary increases in dairy prices
caused by the drouth should not be
allowed to prevent the completion of
this investigation.
Speaker Joe Byrns left the speak
er's chair on Tuesday, April 16, and
scOlded the members of the House for
delays in disposing of legislation. His
action came when it appeared that
the House would adjourn early to al
low members to attend the opening
baseball game here between Wash
ington and Philadelphia. Joe OBJ
jected to the early adjournments
which have characterized the session
and to the practice of adjournment
important to the country" that Con-
gress finish it's work at an early date
and go home.-No doubt Joe is right.
Disbursements in rental and benefit
payments to farmers participating in
adjustment programs total $500, $685.
1852, and expenditures in connection
with removal, utilization and conser-
walton of surplus agricultural COM
modities total $214,651,2 O2, accord
ing to a report by the Agricultural
Adjustment Administration since its
organization on May ~, 1888, up to
March 1, 1885. In addition, $42,254,-
900 was expended in administration
costs. Rental and benefit payments,
cumulative for all programs. by COM
mOdities are: cotton, 1921, 1872, 638;
wheat, s15S,625,961; tobacco, $24,O53,-
1884, corn-hog. s223,453,O54 and sugar.
S3,292,124. AS of the same date as
the report, the returns from process
ing and related taxes reached a cumu-
lative total of 1871, 9S2,1S9.
Congressman James P. B. Duffy of
Rochester, New York. appeared at the