The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-02-24

Washington, Feb. 81. Congress
dealt in billions of dollars last week,
most of them for relief.
Help for the farmer accounted
for half a billion. Funds for the
jobless rolled up on another quar-
ter of billion. And it took the
senate just three seconds to wipe
off the treasury books two and q
half billions charged up to the RFC
which that agency had used for re-
lief of one kind or another.
Other bills either giving permsi-
sion. or supplying money to spend
for various purposes were close by.
A bill to give independent agencies
a little less than billion and a half
was waiting for the senate. An
other was in the house to supply
over hundred millions for the
state, commerce, justice and labor
departments. These were for regu-
lar operating expenses of the gov
eminent for next year. And on top
of them was the plan to spend a
billion for warships. This will be
pareeled out over a considerable
period, however, the bill simply
granting permission for the ship
construction. After permission is
given, the money will be provided
in regular supply bills as needed
Affects Everyone
The new farm bill affects in one
way or another every person in the
nation. For those who live on and
from the soil, it holds promise for
a higher income. For those who
buy what they eat or wear, it prom
ises a supply large enough to as
sure that the prices they pay will
net go up into the stratosphere. That
it would fulfill either of these prom
ises was disputed by contrary mind
ed senators.
Even when marched out along
side come of the legislative giants
that this era of big legislation has
produced, the farm bill still bulks
large in powers, in scope and in
purpose. It provides certain mar
keting controls after supplies get
larger than needs. It provides for
loans, benefits, soil conservation,
crop insurance ad experimentation,
among other things. 1t seeks to
match supply with demand and to
foster new demands.
At the outset, the measure COW
ers cotton, corn, wheat, rice and
tobacco. How long it will be before
other crops are wrapped in the
n-otective folds of the legislative
garment, if it poves storm proof, is
a matter of conjecture. A steady
march of producers had started up
on. AAA before the Supreme
court swatted that agency.
Much Wheat Stored
Enough wheat is stored to take
care of needs for three months lon
ger than the present year. The Nor
NAL need for domestic and export
use lis for 70O,000,0O0 bushels. There
are 200,00O,O00 more than that on
hand The corn surplus is even
shorter. A complete failure of this
years corn crop would leave the
nation with only about enough corn
to last month and half. The an
nual normal need is $500, 100000
bushels. The nation has 300,00O,0O0
more than that.
The establishment Of marketing
quotas for cotton and fiue cured
tobacco was set as the first task OF
the agriculture department in put
ting the new law into operation.
These must be approved by two
thirds of the growers, however, be-
fore this form of an endeavorl to
raise their prices may be started.
Experts who are supposed to
know their economics said farm
prices were one of the things to
which President Roosevelt was re-
ferring this week when he said pric-
es were too low. They cited food
stuffs, textiles and other semi-fin-
ished materials, said wholesale COM
modities were 80 per cent below the
1926 level which the adnninistca-
ton has called normal They said,
however, there had been complaints
that steel was priced too high. Some
said the change in the gold policy
was inspired by an effort to lift
prices.
Works On Relief
Hardly had the farm bill moved
out of the way before the house was
pushing through a relief appropria-
ton to pad out the fund the gov
ernmest has to use between now
and July. It gave another quarter
of billion. Some said this was
too much, others too little.