Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-02-14

ed by the fact that on June Both, so
many bills were outstanding that the
Government had no way of knowing
the exact cost of operating the Asso-
citation. Consequently, they made sure
a sufficient amount was reserved. The
surplus of Approximately 1c per bush
ell will be returned with future pay
ments. The greatest item of expense
was on the part of farm supervisors
who measured the acreages of wheat
and contracted areas on each farm.
This cost was not excessive and from
the experience gained in 1884, such
work this year should be less expen-
sive.
The Corn-Hog Adjustment Program
has taken considerable time during
the past year and while there are
only (298) contracts, the total pay
ments compare favorably with the
payments on more than etwice the
number of wheat contracts. Extreme
difficulties were encountered in COM
pleting the contracts in this connec-
ton, due principally to the over
statement of hogs produced during the
base period. When all of our figures
were in, the State Board of Review
found that there was 263o more hogs
listed as having been raised than was
the actual fact; whereupon, they re-
turned the papers to this Office, en-
phatically stating that such percent
age must be eliminated from the work
sheets before any contract for the
county was approved. Much time and
effort was given this matter by the
office and Allotment Committee and
your President, who was called in for
advice. Of course, every farmer felt
that he was insulted if his figures
were questioned, and as we had spent
the principal part of several nights in
effort to find a solution, it was de-
cided that we simply eliminate the
surplus from the contracts and offer
the adjusted contract to the producer,
who would be privileged to reject or
accept, as he saw fit. To our great
surprise, no contracts were lost be-
cause of the adjustment, even though
there is no question but what many
honest farmers were unduly penaliz
ed. 1t was simply a matter of elimi-
mating without definite facts as to the
correctness of any individuals figures
other than those who had absolute
proof of their production.
Where the fun really began was on
checking the compliance of each farm
er, especially regarding hogs raised
during 1884. However, we are happy
to report that our second compliance
forms have been sent to the Govern
ment, and in so far as we know, all
contracts are correct, although eight
were found to have produced, in
which case, penalties will be charged
against future payments.
Early in the year, the Governor ap-
pointed a Debt Cancellation Commit
tee in each county to act in an advis-
DRY capacity with debtors and credi-
tors in effort to avoid foreclosures
against farmers or total losses on the
part of unsecured creditors, where a
farmer was found to be over burdened
with debt. Many preplexing problems
arose in the numerous cases presented
to the committee, however, practically
all of them were conciliated satisfac-
torily to both the secured and I'M
secured creditors. Most cases were re-
lferred to us by the Federal Land
Bank, who offered to lend certain
amount of money, providing all debts
could be scaled down to a point where
the farmer might operate and carry
his indebtedness. We would then call
a meeting of the farmer and his cred
itors, where everyone presented his
claim and where every creditor might
know the exact status of the farmers
business. In most cases, secured in.
debtedness was paid in full and what
money remained was distributed
among the unsecured creditors il
proportion to their respective claims
This worked to an advantage for The
farmer in that he retained the farm
and home with no more indebtedness.
than he could reasonably be expectes
to carry, and to the creditor it mean
un-freezing many loans and avoided
total loss on the part of any cred
itor. The question might arise as t,
why farmers debt should be scale,
down. The Governments reply ha
been that most excessive debt burden
were accumulated when prices wer