UNITED STATES. 



THE WORK OF THE COMMISSIONvS 



APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE AGRICULTURAL CREDIT 



AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 



SOURCES : 



American Commission for the Study of the Application of the Co-operative System 

 TO Agricultural Production, Distribution and Finances in Extropean Coun- 

 tries. Senate Document No. 1,071. Washington, 1913. 

 Work of the American Commission. Senate Document No. 177. Washington, 1913 

 Report of the United States Commission to Investigate and Study in European 

 Countries Co-operative I^and Mortgage Banks, Co-operative Rural Credit Unions 

 AND Similar Organizations. Senate Document No. 380 and Congressional Record, 

 January 29, 191 4. Washington, 19 14. 



§ I. The origin of the commissions. 



In April, 1912, the Southern Commercial Congress, in a conference held 

 at Nashville, decided to organize a Commission to be composed of two 

 delegates from every State, to visit certain European countries for the pur- 

 pose of investigating existing systems of agricultural credit. The proposal 

 aroused great interest, and after some discussion in the press and at var- 

 ious conferences, the scope of the enquiry to be undertaken vv^as widened 

 to include a study of agricultural co-operation in its various forms. 



In a Senate Resolution passed on August 15th, 1912, Congress endorsed 

 the proposal and invoked for this Commission — called the American Com- 

 mission — the diplomatic consideration of the countries to be included in 

 the itinerary. 



On March 4th, 1913, Congress authorized the appointment of a Federal 

 Commission — distinguished as the United States Commission — which, 

 by the terms of its reference, was to co-operate with the American Com- 

 mission assembled under the auspices of the Southern Commercial Congress 

 to investigate and study in European countiies co-operative land-mortgage 

 banks, co-operative rural credit unions and similar organizations and 

 institutions devoting their attention to the promotion of agricultture and 

 the betterment of rural conditions. 



