Milford chronicle., 1955-07-15

FRIDAY, JULY Is, 1855
THE FARMER NEEDS OUR MERCHANT
MARINE
The Farm Bureau Federation has stated
that we need continuous program of agri-
cultural exports totaling at least 81 ,O0O,0 ,0O0,-
900 year for the"next several years.
There is no question of American agricul-
ture's ability to produce this vast amount of
food and fiber. But production is not enough
we must have sure, American-contrOlled
means of getting the cargoes to the nations
across the seas. And that means that the
farmer-like all the rest of us-has a very
great stake in protecting and strengthening
the American merchant marine.
This is especially important now. Efforts
are being made to repeal or modify the So
called 5000 law" which provides that at
least so per cent of government-fnancedca car
go going abroad must be shipped in Ameri-
can-hag vessels if they are available. This
law is certainly eminently fair to foreign
merchant marines, in that it gives them the
right to carry half of these cargoes 1t is, in
fact, far more liberal than the laws of most
other maritime nations, which commonly
severely discriminate against merchant fleets
flying flags other than their own. And it is
necessary to the health of our own merchant
marine-an institution which authorities
from President Eisenhower on down have
described as vital both to the national de
fense and the peace-time economy.
Farmers would do we'll to remember what
happened prior to our entry into both World
Wars | and ii, when foreign ships were with
drawn from commercial trade at our ports.
The resulting lack of shipping space had a
devastating effect on our overseas market
for all commercial products. Only the Amer
lean merchant marine can assure continued
access to overseas markets for American pro-
hnfb Of fo,~ rnofnr
$685.
MORAL-INDEPENDE PAYS
Even those who most strongly favor rigid
price supports for the so-called "six basic
crops must admit that this has created a
gigantic and costly problem. AS of the end
of last February, $7,500,000,000 of govern
ment money was tied up in farm products
under supports. 1t costs S250,000,000 year
just to store the products the government has
bought.
1t will come as a surprise to many people
to learn that despite all the money that has
been spent in supporting these crops, and
despite all the interminable verbal battles
that have been fought over what support
policy should be, they comprise only 26 per
cent of the nations total agricultural pro-
ductiOn. Such important crops as cattle
hogs, poultry. and fresh fruits and vege-
tables are not supported
1t will come as a further surprise TO many
to learn that the product which brings more
money to farmers than any other is not sup
ported. That product is livestock. The big
gest and most consistent increases in income
have come from cattle and calves, expand
ing from IL to II per cent of all farm re-
ceipts in the early 1920's to 19 per cent
average during the past four years. These
animals supplanted dairy products as the
leading income producer back in 1943.
The moral seems to be that there are and
can be successful agricultural operations
without government subsidy. 1t should be
ducerS, even in times of trouble, have not
asked for and have opposed price supports
by government. They want to take their
own chances and keep their independence.
~$so&S
GRAB-BAG TACTICS
A house committee has voted in favor of
extensive and costly revisions of the social
security law, on an immediate basis. 1t ig-
nOred recommendations by Secretary Hobby
and others that the proposals should be given
thorough study along with full public hear
ings.
No matter how one feels about broaden
ing the base of social security and increasing
benefits, it is difficult to see how hasty action
can be justified. To vote major Legislation
on hurry-up basis is to invite all kinds OF
problems and dangers. The only sound pro
cedure is to take whatever time is needed tt
study the proposals, let all points of view bt
heard and considered, weigh the pros anC
cons, and then vote.
1t is reported that there is strong senti
ment in the Senate for doing just that May
it prevail-in the interests of the taxpayers
and of the social security benefciaries nov
and of the future
Now that compulsory social securit,
system, upon which millions of citizens ar,
utterly dependent, has become an established
part Of our lives, it would be nothing les.
than criminal to alter it except in a spiri
of the highest craftsmanship The integrit,
OF social security is synonymous with the in
tegrity of our money.