The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 11, 1918, Page 11

! Houston Kills Bill to Help Farmers ' Although Congressman Baer’s Measure Was Indorsed by Herbert Hoover the Secretary of Agriculture Secures Unfavorable Action in Committee Washington Bureau Nonpartisan Leader ONGRESSMAN BAER'S bill to aid drouth- stricken farmers and assure big crops'to win the war was killed in the agricultural com- mittee of the house of representatives through opposition of Secretary of Agriculture Houston. : Although the bill had been strongly indorsed by Herbert Hoover, food administrator, as a war meas- ure, Secretary Houston spent three hours before the committee fighting against it, on the ground that there was no need for it from a production stand- point and that it was “poor business” to loan money to farmers on credit in this way. The committee was agreed on_the bill and had intended to recommend it out for passage when Sec- retary Houston interposed his objections. As secre- tary of agriculture, however, his opinion had great weight with the committee and after he had spent many hours combatting the bill the committee voted tie on the proposition. The chairman of the com- mittee then killed it by casting his vote with those opposed to the measure. This action came as a great surprise. It was known Mr. Houston would oppose the bill, as it had not originated with him and he felt put out that some- one else should urge on congress a bill having to do with agriculture, which he considers his special -province. But it was expected that the strong in- dorsement of "Mr. Hoover and the fact that the farmers have made their attitude known in no un- certain terms would overbalance Mr. Houston’s op- position. Besides the support of Hoover and many agricul- tural experts and economists, both in and out of the government service, the Baer bill has been indorsed by several hundred farm papers and farmers' or- ' ganizations throughout the country. Thousands of individual letters from farmers on file urged its passage. The 'Nonpartisan league submitted over 3,500 reports of individual farmers from various parts of the country. These reports gave the finan- cial condition of those reporting and showed the general need of money to buy seed and the inability of private money lenders to take care of the propo- gition. These individual reports from farmers were obtained by the Nonpartisan Leader from its readers: and were striking proof of the need for the measure. The bill would have made money available for farmers at reasonable rates of interest, the govern- ment loan being secured by mortgages on the ex- pected crop. Thousands of farmers have been un- able to get loans at all and can not respond to the government’s plea for larger crops. Other thousands can borrow money from private sources but will have to pay 10 and 12 per cent for it and object to placing themselves in the clutches of money lenders to that extent. These things, however, did not seem to impress Mr. Houston. It adds another sin to the many of the secretary of agriculture. He, it will be remembered, is the man responsible for the unfair federal grain grades promulgated a year ago—the grades on wheat that benefit grain buyers and millers and heavily penalize farmers. These unfair grades are still in effect, despite a protest from almost every wheat farmer in the Northwest. HOOVER'S TESTIMONY - BEFORE COMMITTEE Herbert Hoover has indorsed the princirle of the Baer bill, providing that the government -uall fur- nish feed and seed to farmers, where .. cessary, on their promissory notes, with the 1918 crop as security. He indorsed it during his testimony before the house committee on agriculture, where he came to urge that everything possible be done by con- gress to stimulate the production of more wheat and meat and other foods this year. Hoover had explained the steps taken by the de- partment of agriculture last fall to increase. the acreage planted to winter wheat. Representative Young of North Daketa asked him whether he had information that certain farmers would not be able to get the seed necessary to plant their crop this year. 5 : “The North Dakota situation looked very. serious a month ago,” said Hoover, “but just now, with their usual ability to take care of themselves, they have developed some system of county bonds, and the assistance of the local banks, and I believe they are going to secure seed for the whole area. It looks very hopeful.” . “What have you to say,” inquired Young, “as to the need of having all of the available acreage in, this year, in other states?” MUST NOT WAIT FOR THE STATES TO ACT “There can be no question of doubt,” replied Hoover, earnestly, “that we ought to have every acre, and quarter acre, in crops; and on this whole problem of helping the farmers to finance their seed I felt very earnestly a month ago that federal action was necessary. I think at the moment that it requires a little inquiry as to how far local initiative is going to solve the problem, or a great deal of it, WHERE THE BAER BILL WAS KILLED--THE NATIONAL CAPITOL but that is the only reservation I have as to its necessity right now.” . To this Young replied that “We of course assume that whoever handled the fund to furnish seed on credit would not distribute it excepting in those areas where it would be found absolutely necessary.” Hoover was then reminded that during the hear- ing on the Baer bill he had been quoted as being convinced that the government should see to it that every possible acre should be seeded this spring. “I have that feeling very strongly,” the food ad- ministrator agreed. “I am only tempered with the point of view of the actual need of the measure by how far local efforts solve a part of that problem, That is all.” “You mean,” Young asked, “that certain states have solved the problem? Do you think we ought to gamble now as to whether some other states will or will not?” “No,” answered Hoover. “I should like, perhaps, to see the measure of Representative Baer adopted, to assist through the farm loan bank, as that is an’ engine of possibility of distribution much better than through the food departments of the govern- ment. “I have a strong feeling that if a sum of money can be placed in the hands of the farm loan banks for purposes akin to that, and under such restric- tions as would secure a maximum local credit, that it would be very beneficial indeed, and my own feeling is that they are the proper agency to carry it out.” - “Do you think,” Young inquired, “it would also be desirable to have a certain fund placed in their hands to furnish feed for any localities where year- lings are being sold very heavily, in order to con- serve the cattle supply?” “If they had a certain amount of latitude for loans on livestock and forthcoming crops,” was Hoover's judgment, “something of that type probably could cover the feeding of cattle as an incident of their loans rather than by buying the feed and distrib- uting it. That would be one method of approaching it, at least.” CAN'T RAISE TOO MUCH, MR. HOOVER SAYS Later in the day Young asked: “Even if every available acre is seeded, will the food problem still be acute during the next period of six months or during the next 18 months?” “No,” was Hoover's reply. “If we could have the 32,000,000 acres of extra seeding that we had last year and could have obtained a normal crop from - ==Copyright by Harris & Ewing ! il B T -