The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-07-22

OCu1ulCO NY Tic OSdLIl VI Tie dO1G
and beloved Majority Leader of the
United States Senate, Joseph T.
Robinson, and with faces stern from
choked emotions and suppressed
tears, Senators are prepared to close
their ranks and carry on. Now at his
final resting place in the state which
gave him to the country for long
years of useful service, Joe Robin
son would have wished that the
things left undone be finished.
Far upon the list of things to
which the Congress must give at
tention is the problem of farm leg
islaion. The President has stressed
its Importance. The leadership of
both Houses is alive to the fact that
the demands of farmers that they
share in the benefits from legislative
approaches to crucial national prob
lens are rightful demands. The
farmer has every reason to expect
action before Congress adjourns.
And it should be sound and con-
structive action.
Fortunately, legislation bearing
Administration approval and sup
ported by large farm groups, has al
ready been introduced in the House
A companion measure, only a slight
variance with the House bill, is
ready to be introduced in the Sen
ate. Hearings may develop shortly
At these hearings those familiar
with the conditions and problems of
agriculture in the South will see
that the rights of the Southern
farmer are safeguarded.
The pending legislation frankly
recognizes that the production and
marketing of major agricultural
commodities constitutes one of the
great national basic industries and
its stability is necessary to the gen.
eral welfare. 1t recognizes that ag-
ricultural commodities and the
farmer who produces these commod-
tiles are subject to uncomfortable
natural causes. 1t recognizes that
farmers are so situated that they
they cannot organize effectively, as
can labor and industry, for joint
economic action. 1t recognizes that
farmers, in most cases, carry on
their operations with borrowed
money or leased lands.
Equally as important, the propos-
ed legislation recognizes that farm
tons and excessive supplies without
Federal Intervention. There is gen.
eral agreement that disorderly mar
keting of excessive supplies burdens
and bostructs foreign and interstate
commerce; interferes with orderly
neutrality-suspicious. prices and causes
a disparity between prices for agri-
cultural commodities and industrial
products.
Obviously, space will not permit a
full discussion of pending farm leg
islation in the brief space of this
column. But the highlights can be
cited. The proposed legislation au-
thorizes the Secretary of Agricul-
ture to prepare adjustment con-
tracts for submission to farmers,
covering operations with respect to
commodities planted to be harvested
in 1888, 1899, and 1910. 1t provides
for parity payments commencing in
1888 in lieu of soil-conserving pay
ments. 1t provides for a Surplus
Reserve Loan Corporation. And it
also provides consumer safeguards
Perhaps one of the most important
phases of the proposed legislation
has to do with marketing quotas It
is here that is found the essential
difference between the House bill
and the Measure to be introduced in
the Senate. The Senate bill would
provid for marketing agreements by
two-thirds vote of approval by
farmers concerned.
The important section ten (a) of
the House bill says: whenever on
the thirtieth day prior to the begin
ming of the marketing year for any
major agricultural commodity the
Secretary (of Agriculture) has rea-
son to believe that the total supply
thereof, as of the beginning of such
marketing year, will exceed the
normal supply thereof by more than
the following percentage: cotton,
fifteen per cent; wheat, twenty per
cent; field corn, ten per cent; tobac-
co, ten per cent; on rice, ten per cent
then the Secretary shall within
fifteen days thereafter hold, at a
convenient place within the princi-
pal area or areas where the COM
modify is produced, public hearings
for the PURPOSES of ascertaining the