Show WHEAT GUARANTEE H HANDLING IS' IS EXPLAINED Statement Issued by U. U S. S Department of Agriculture Agriculture Agri Agri- cuI culture ture Several statements statement hMO have recently appeared appeared ap ap- ap- ap In dally and grain trade papers indicating that tho the department of ot a apr apr- turo I la Is anxious to take charge of at tho the work ork of ot carrying out the guaranteed guaranteed guar guar- ed price o on th the 1919 wheat wheal crop These statements misrepresent the at attitude at- at of at tho the department of ot agriculture Tho The department of at agriculture l after aHer this country entered the tho war took the position that emergency food tood activities of ot a commercial nature should be di directed directed directed di- di by an emergency ency agency and antI therefore participated in framing tho the food tood control act giving gh the president power to c create te such an agency Tho The food tood administration and Its grain corporation corporation cor cor- oration sot up under the cat and they have handled the wheat guaranties guaranties guaran guaran- ties from the beginning Tho secretary secretary secre secre- tary of ot agriculture has assumed until recently that these thess agencies would without question contInuo continue to handle handlo tho the wheat guaranties until the emergency emor- emor goncy gency pa passed sed and the law ceases to boin bein bo be boin in operation Ho still BUll believes that it would be desirable for tor the grain corporation corporation corporation cor cor- to continue to function and close out the matter The corporation has gained much valuable experience during tho the war and should be able to todeal todeal deal with tho the problems as effectively ns ny other othor establishment Tho The recent wheat guaranty act seems to contemplate that this agency would continue to act Among other I things it authorizes the president to toUS US use existing agency or agencies and to utilize any department of at the government government govern govern- ment including of ot course the food administration ad ad- ministration grain corporation It would be difficult for tor an any other ing agency agency now to set up the requisite machinery ry especially in view of tho the short time intervening before the 1919 crop movement begins and und oven if It It were to undertake to do so some same embarrassment would undoubtedly re result result ro- ro sult because two agencies over a 0 part of tho the period would ouM be dealing in wheat The task Is la one of ot great ma magnitude I and the time is short The secreta secretary of agriculture recent recently cabled to tho the president pointing out the necessity for tor Immediate action and and urging that the th present machinery that is the food rood administration grain corporation be bern rn maintained and anti utilized As a a. matter of course If It tho ho president Jent should designata designate designate des des- ignate ignata the department of a agriculture as the agency to handle the 1919 guaranty guaranty guar guar- ant anty IL would assume assum the task and discharge it to tho the best of ot its Ita ability |