284 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION
The CrairmaN. And this organization is not Federal in any way,
50-50 or any other way?
Mr. Gray. This organization is exclusively and wholly an organization
 of farmers who pay their membership fee to their respective
county farm bureaus. There is no source of income for the American
Farm Bureau Federation except the portion of the individual fee
which is paid to the county farm bureau, that portion coming through
State bureaus into the Chicago office of the American Farm Bureau
Federation. Every person who is a member of the county farm
bureau contributes to the American Farm Bureau Federation 50
cents every year.
Of that 50 cents which comes to the Chicago headquarters, the
board of directors allocates the entire amount among the several
departments of the American Farm Bureau Federation, numbering
about 10 departments. The legislative department gets $21,500
annually to sustain everything that we do here at Washington.
That sum of money is made up of a portion of the 50 cents which
comes from each member into the national work. The rest of the
money is used in the State farm bureau federations. Some of our
State bureaus get, of each individual fee, as high as $5 a year for
State work; others get as little as $1 a year for State work. The
main portion of the fee stays in the county for county work; and much
of that work in many of our counties goes to sustain the county
agricultural agent. In other words, instead of our being supported
by the Federal Government, our farm membership monev goes to
sustain the Government activities.
The Craamrman. Now, that is just the point I wanted to clear up.
There are in many counties in manv States county agents?
Mr. Gray. Yes, sir.
The CuatrmanN. Who are paid in part by the Federal Government?
Mr. Gray. Yes, sir.
The CrairMAN. Just as a quick statement how is that arranged—
she county-agent system?
Mr. Gray. With our organization? :
The CuairMaN. No; before you get to that. I mean the Federal
Government and the county agent.
Mr. Gray. The Federal Government and State government have a
50-50 arrangement, the State government half and the Federal
Government half. However, if the State government does not, for
one reason or another, support or provide its half of the money, the
rest of the money is secured by local contributions from various
sources, in which the farm bureau is a factor, as I stated. contributing
to the salary of the county agricultural agent.
The Crarrman. This is highly important. Now, in case a State,
by act of its legislature, failure to appropriate, does not take on the
50-50 Federal county agent system, 50 per cent appropriated by the
Federal Government and 50 per cent by the State—in case a State
does not take care of its end, does the farm bureau come in ‘and in
any way make its contact with the Federal Government?
Mr. Gray. Not directly.
The Crairman. Or even indirectly?
Mr. Gray. Indirectly, through the State Department, through the
State government. There is no contact, official or otherwise, excepting
 such contacts as when we appear before vour committees here.