Carbon County news., 1937-06-11

Urge NeGO program. Lik e
Farm Progr0nseveral that have
come through in
the last half-dozen years, the new
proposition is based on a subsidy.
The current program, like the old
AAA, is predicated on agreements
by which farmers will not do some
thing and be paid for not doing it.
To obtain the subsidies from the
federal treasury contemplated in
the new farm legislation, farmers
will have to sign contracts agreeing
to curtail their acreages up to twen-
+ ty per cent Of their average cultiva-
tion for the last several years. If
they fail or refuse to sign these
contracts, the legislation describes
them as not cooperating and, there
fore, they would be denied the right
to obtain loans from the federal gov
ernment and they would not have a
guarantee of parity prices" as a
penalty. Moreover, those farmers
who failed or refused to cooperate
in this manner would be subjected
to prohibitive taxes on the sale of
products grown in excess of limits
on totals to be prescribed by Secre-
tary Wallace of the Department of
Agriculture.
The announced basis Of this new
program is for conservation Of the
soil" Further, its sponsors contend
that it will mean a gradual upbuild-
ing of the fertility of the soil so that,
in the end, fewer acres will have to
be cultivated to produce the same
volume of corn or cotton or wheat
or whatever other crop is grown.
But I think there are few individ-
uals who will say that. the above
reasons honestly constitute the basis
for this new farm legislation. I
think it must be admitted that the
plan is only subterfuge; that,
while it may help some farmers by
giving them cash, it is pure politics
with cash as sop.
I am not one equipped to say that
agriculture does not need subsidy
even though prices of farm products
are now almost double what they
were in 1888. It is entirely possible
that farmers throughout the nation
still need help in, the form of cash.
It may be the better part Of wisdom
to vote such payments as are con-
tenaplated in. this new legislation. On
the other hand, however, if there
is that need then let us be honest
about it. 2Ns:ssHsas8f Ss54 rs ,,.~
President Roosevelt lately has
signed a new law which provides
subsidies to shipping companies in
order that America may have its
own: merchant marine, but those
are to be called subsidies.
They are not disguised nor con-
cealed. It seems ridiculous, there
fore, that the farm leaders should
not be frank with the members Of
their organizations. If they feel that
a subsidy is needed, why not put
it up to congress that way so that
those farmers who believe in SUBJ
sides as well as those who want
to see agriculture left alone for
awhile can understand what is go
ing on.
imagine that the farm leaders
who are sponsoring the new legisla- |
tion could scarce |
Chose ly have chosen
Bad Time worse time for |
presentation of |
their program. I mean that, in |
presenting this type of legislation /
when congress is undergoing a wave
of economy, the program is likely |
10 receive scant consideration. It
always has been the case that legis-
alton goes through several stages
If, hauling and filing in congress
With the result that after much de-
pate a bill satisfactory to the ma
ority emerges. In presenting their |
program at this time, therefore, the
arm leaders are not doing very
good job Of leading. There will be
much agitation on the part of the
arm leaders that will get just no.
where at all because of conditions
n congress.
Edward A. O'NeaL president Of
he American Farm Bureau Feder-
ltion, recently was quoted as saying
hat the new plan would not require
my payments direct from the treas
Try; that is, it would pay its own
way through the medium of taxes if
t ''works perfectly" i" That is the
.ub. I find doubt in nearly all quar-
ers that the plan can work per-
ectly." It is SO complex and re-
luires such a Bureaucracy for ad-
Of it that to expect it
o "work perfectly" is virtually to
Expect that legislation will control
he weather. ] think everyone will
lgree that congress and the admin
stration has not yet been able to
ind the formula for controlling the
weather.:
believe it can be said fairly that
many farmers are dissatisfied with
he soil conservation program
ldopted as a substitute for the AAA
which the much criticized Supreme