The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-06-10

Washington.-Farm leaders have
gone before congress again to press
:, =, new agricultural
Urge NeU program. Lik e
Farm Program several 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-
ton 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
eminent 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 a 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 a subsidy
even though prices of farm products
are now almost double what they
were in 1888. 1t 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-
templated in this new legislation. On
the other hand, however, if there
| is that need then let us be honest
about it.
President Roosevelt lately has
signed new law which provides
subsidies to shipping companies in
order that America may have its
own merchant marine, but those
payments are to be called subsidies.
They are not disguised nor con-
cealed. 1t 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 sub
sides as well as those who want
to see agriculture left alone for
awhile can understand what is 60
ing on.
I imagine that the farm leaders
who are sponsoring the new legisla-
ton could scarce
CnoSe ly have chosen a
Bad Time worse time for
presentation of
their program. I mean that, in
presenting this type of legislation
when congress is undergoing wave
of economy, the program is likely
to receive scant consideration. It
always has been the case that legis-
lation goes through several stages
of hauling and filling in congress
with the result that after much de-
bate bill satisfactory to the ma
jority energies. In presenting their
program at this time, therefore, the
farm leaders are not doing very
good job of leading. There will be
much agitation on the part of the
farm leaders that will get just no
where at all because of conditions
in congress.
Edward A. O'Neal, president of
the American Farm Bureau FEEDER
alton, recently was quoted as saying
that the new plan would not require
any payments direct from the treas
ury; that is, it would pay its own
way through the medium of taxes if
it works perfectly" That is the
rub. find doubt in nearly all quar-
ters that the plan can "work per-
feetly." 1t is so complex and re-
quires such bureaucracy for adj
ministration of it that to expect it
to work perfectly" is virtually to
expect that legislation will control
the weather. I think everyone will
agree that congress and the admin
istration has not yet been able to
find the formula for controlling the
weather.
believe it can be said fairly that
| many farmers are dissatisfied with
the soil conservation program
adopted as substitute for the AAA
which the much criticized Supreme
court held unconstitutional by a
unanimous vote. Even those Off
Gals of the Department of Agricul-
ture who are frank will admit that
the soil conservation is not an effec-
tive means for controlling produc-
ton. 1t does have merit as far as
it goes in conserving the soil. But
there is another phase: 1t has been
pointed out too often almost to need