Sept. 1894.] AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION IN THE UNITED STATES. 19 



The Sub- Committee suggest several remedies, which they 

 divide into three classes : — First, such as farmers can invent and 

 apply individually ; second, such as farmers can bring about by 

 association ; and third, such as can be supplied only by the aid 

 of legislation. 



With reference to remedies by association, it is pointed out 

 that wherever farmers have associated themselves together for 

 purposes of mutual improvement and have maintained their 

 organisations, they have received mutual benefits. This has 

 been abundantly demonstrated by the Patrons of Husbandry 

 and like bodies of farmers who have made the business of 

 farming a study. These associations, however, have not under- 

 taken to unite in the conduct of large farming operations, nor 

 have there been any syndicates made up of men who own and 

 till small farms. 



The remedies by legislation are separated into two classes : — 

 State and national. By State legislation much, it is thought, 

 might be done to relieve agriculture by keeping freight charges 

 uniform and reasonable on State traffic, and by establishing a 

 warehouse and grading system so that farmers may have 

 convenient and common warehouse and elevator privileges. 



Farmers and all classes of producers might also be helped by 

 the regulation of the charges in all quasi-public institutions, such 

 as mills and express companies, and by keeping charges of public 

 officers within reasonable bounds. 



But among remedies by State legislation perhaps none, it is 

 considered, is more important than the equalisation of taxation. 



Concerning remedies by means of national legislation, the 

 Sub-Committee recommend an improved system of Government 

 crop and market reporting ; the suppression of the business 

 commonly known as dealing in " Options and Futures" ; and the 

 consolidation of the transportation business, to the end that 

 charges may be uniform in all parts of the country and that 

 carriage shall not cost more than it is reasonably worth. 



They also suggest the necessity of an improvement of the 

 monetary system and financial methods of the United States, 

 and recommend the restoration of silver coin to its ancient 

 place as money; the provision of an abundant legal tender 

 national currency ; the abolition of banks of issue ; the establish- 

 ment of public savings depositories ; the direct surveillance of 

 all banks by the Government ; and a reduction of the rates of 

 interest to a reasonable and uniform standard. 



Two other recommendations are to the effect that the Govern- 

 ment should be divorced from the moneyed interest, and that 

 there should be a cessation of class legislation. 



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