Show Jl ello Tow J I tt u R in WASHINGTON By Walter Shead en Future of Farm Loan Agencies in Doubt f fI 1 I leaders lenders here ere governmental FARM and private are split wide open over ever the question of whether or not term farm credit agencies should be combined under one head within the department of agriculture or sepa sepa- separated separated separated rated from the department and oper oper- operated operated operated as an independent agency oti of the one hand there is the Farm Bureau federation the Na Na- National National National Council of Farm opera Co Cooperatives tives and the National Grange who are backing the bill introduced by byon Con on John W. W Flannagan Jr D. D Va which would separate the farm credit agencies from the depart depart- department department department ment of agriculture and place them under the jurisdiction of a parti bi-parti- bipartisan san board to be named by the Pres Pres- President President ident of which h the secretary of agri agri- agriculture agriculture agriculture culture would be an officio ex-officio mem mem- ber On the other hand the progressive National Farmers union the secre secre- secretary secretary secretary tary of agriculture and a group of minded farm congressmen are seek seek- seeking seeking seeking ing to retain the farm credit agen agen- agencies agencies agencies cies within the department of agriculture agri agri- agriculture culture under direct control of the Secretary but with the appointment of an advisory board and an assist assist- assistant assistant assistant ant secretary of agriculture who would be the executive administrator tor of the agencies And aside from these two schools of Df thought there is another group I headed beaded by Rep Harold Cooley D. D D N N. C C. and Reid F. F Murray R. R Wis who are seeking to set up a entirely new corporation to be known I as the Farmers' Farmers Home corporation which would operate upon a plan similar to the Federal Housing ad ad- administration administration administration ministration insofar as farm loans are concerned and which would as as- assume assume assume sume many of the functions of the existing farm loan agencies within w thin the D. D DD of A. A Struggle for lor Control Thus there is a way three-way fight or tor control of the multi billion tar lar farm lending agencies which I since their inception in May 1933 I have made various types of farm loans through June 30 30 1945 totaling under the head of the I Farm Credit administration and an additional billion dollars under un fer the Farm Security administration The various lending agencies which have been established under the Farm Credit administration gov gov- governorship governorship include the Federal Land banks the Production Credit cor cor- corporation corporation corporation the Federal Intermediate Credit Cedit edit banks the Federal Farm Mortgage corporation the 13 Banks for operatives Co Emergency Crop and Feed loans and the Regional j Agricultural Credit corporation all of which as of June 30 30 1945 had loans outstanding amounting to 2 I The National Council of Farm Cooperatives Co Co- Cooperatives Cooperatives operatives and the Farm Bureau federation believe the Farm Credit agencies should be set up on an in in- independent independent independent dependent basis much the same as the Federal Reserve system and should ordinate co-ordinate the different fields Gelds of farm credit loans to eliminate eliminate eliminate nate gaps and duplications operating operating operating ing within the framework of the na na- national national na- na national governmental policy under the jurisdiction of a partisan bi-partisan board oard of six to seven members Combine With Sec of Agriculture Clinton P. P P An An- Anderson Anderson Anderson derson believes the Farm Security administration should be combined I with the but by retaining all agencies within the department of t j agriculture He believes that farm loans are related inter-related with all the theother theother other functions of the department and that persons who have a voice I in making credit available to farm farm- farmers farmers farmers ers should have voice a-voice in the for for- formulation formulation formulation of other farm programs to tomake tomake I make a maximum contribution to 10 the welfare of the farmer Because of the prevailing view vies that agencies of the federal govern govern- government government ment should be grouped under cabi cabi- cabinet cabinet net officers responsible directly to the president Mr Anderson said saIdI I believe that for the long run the question is not whether the farm credit and the farm security pro pro- programs programs grams should be set up within an aD I independent agency of the federal government To me me the question rather seems to be whether it ismore is ismore is' is ismore more appropriate for these agencies I Ito to be in the department of agriculture agriculture ture or in some other executive de department department of government Since these I are farmers' farmers programs it seems seem obvious to me that they belong ir it that department which is engaged Primarily with the problems ol oj the farmers This writer believes that since Mr Flannagan is chairman of the house agricultural committee anc am anchis anchis his measure has been reported ou au for passage it Is likely it will stanc stam stanca stama a good chance to pass the house it ii spite of the opposition of the agri agricultural agricultural agricultural cultural secretary Whether it wil get by the senate however is an another another other question The Farmers union believes th the Flannagan bill will definitely kil kit the and they are alongside the secretary in the fight ti tl keep the credit agencies within the thi department of agriculture |