Evening star., 1953-02-10
The Political Mil
Both Sides Of Aisle
Have Proise for FHA
Lusseter's Agency Proves
Formers Pay Their Debts
By Gould Lincoln

Formers Pay Their Debts
By Gould Lincoln
In these days Of uncertainty, and Of
some falling farm prices, the Farmers
Home Administration of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture looks like good
Standby" organization-capable, in a
pinch. Of meeting some of the vital
needs Of some American farmers. For
six years. under the direction Of billiard
B. LaSseter, this agency has made
remarkable record. Among other things,
1t has demonstrated that American
farmers are q good gamble-they pay
their debts.
This agency and Mr.. LasSeter have
been the subject of high praise in
Congress. by Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike. Representative Clifford
Hope Of Kansas. chairman Of the House
Committee on Agriculture. firmly
believes that Mr.. Lasseter should be
retained as administrator: that he is
an example Of Government servants
who have done outstanding Jobs, in q
completely non-partisan way.
Take a look at the record. This
Federal agency, which makes real
estate and operating loans to farmers.
has put out total of $2,676, ,000, 900.
It has collected on principal $751;
OOO. 1000. and in interest Of $263, 1876 900,
or total Of $2,214, ,196, 900. The farmers
keep right on paying their debts to an
agency which literally made 1t possible
Tor thousands Of Americans, O great
number of them veterans, to take up or
continue farming. Here is an interesting
angle. The loans by the Farmers Home
Administration have been made only
to farmers who couldn't get credit else
where-for example, from banks and
insurance companies. The farmers have
had to prove this before the agency
would grant them loans.
Aid to Private Enterprise.
These Government loans have not
lmplnged upon private enterprise
there has been no competition with
private enterprise. Indeed, private
enterprise handles over 95 per cent Of
all agricultural loans. In addition. the
farmers who have been helped to buy
farms and to make a success of them
through the loans Of the FFiA have in
turn become depoSitors and clients of
the banks, thereby still further bolster
Ing the private-enterprise system of the
country.
The FILA is a far-flung enterprise.
1t has made loans and aided farmers
IN every State of the Union in Hawaii.
Puerto Rico and Alaska. At the same
time, 1t operates in a decentralized
and very human way. It puts men
on farms of their own through it's real
estate loans. It keeps men on farms
through its operation loans. It saves
men on farms through its disaster
loans" It also keeps track of the
farmers to whom 1t has made loans
and aids them, when necessary, with
advice. One thing in particular It has
done. 1t has made farmers who borrow
keep records Of their operationS-So
they always know just where they
stand-Something Of great value to the
borrowers and also Of value to the
FILA.
$164 Million for FHA.
The annual authorization for all
loans by the FILA this fiscal year is
$164 million-and the authorization for
disaster loans" is between $50 and $50
million. The disaster loans are made
from revolving fund These disaster
loans have been made to help farmers in
Hooded areas, in drought areas, in areas
which have been hit by hurricanes,
and in areas where unprecedented
cold has destroyed crops and herds.
When the bottom dropped out of the
fur market a few years ago, the 80th
Congress, Republican Congress,
authorized loans up to 81 million all
told to fur farmers. One big operator
wanted to borrow 100000 for food
for his minks.
The FILA is dealing particularly with
young men. Preference is given to war
veterans in making loans for farm
purchases-and some $40 million has
been available for this purpose this
year. Individual loans for farm pur-
chases average about $1,000. Applica-
tions for loans far exceed the funds
available.
Mr.. Lasseter, himself veteran of
the First World War, was during
the second World War director of the
Federal Manpower Commission in
Atlanta, Ga, covering the Southeastern
States. 1t was from that Office he came
to be administrator Of the FILA in 1876.
Representative Horan, Republican, of
Washington, member of the Appro-
priationS Subcommittee in charge Of
the agriculture appropriation bill, told
the House, during consideration of that
measure, that the subcommittee was
ready to back up good administrator"
at all times. Mr.. LaSseter. he added. lis
a good man." In the same debate, Rep
resentative Stigler Democrat, Of Okla
homa and chairman of the subcom-
mittee. commented on the efficiency Of
the collectings of the FILA by saying:
These collections did not happen by
pure accident. attribute this out
standing achievement to the manner
in which the Farmers Home Admin
istration is administered by its admin
orl I'D