AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
15 
Mr. Gray. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Apkins. The proposed change makes the number seven from 
each district? 
Mr. Gray. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Apkins. Without regard to commodities? 
Mr. Gray. That is right. 
Mr. Apkins. Do your conferees believe that that is a better scheme? 
For instance, if you were going to declare an operation period on corn, 
that your advisory council would be more helpful to the board on 
corn than, for instance, an advisory council representing corn? Do 
they think it is a more satisfactory plan than the special commodity 
advisory council? 
Mr. Gray. We do, for one or two reasons, the first one being that 
the council, as we are suggesting it to you now by amendment, would 
be more of a permanent institution in each Federal land-bank district, 
and the men, seven in number, if that is the number that the com- 
mittee desires to leave in the council, would study the agricultural 
situation in their district in relation to whatever commodity had a 
surplus or needed loaning facilities, such as are provided for in this 
bill. 
In other words, the seven men in the advisory council would have 
a complete picture of agriculture in that district rather than a special- 
ized picture on one particular commodity. 
The second reason that we think it would be advisable and better 
than the old plan is that the council would not need to be set up in 
emergency situations, if corn should be superabundant, or wheat, or 
cotton, or what not, but the council would be there ready to work 
whenever a condition justifying operation of the bill materialized. 
Mr. KincHELOE. Don’t you think many of those members might 
be there but would not know anything about the matter under con- 
sideration? 
Mr. Gray. I think not, Congressman Kincheloe. 
Mr. KincaELOE. Does the man in the land bank district up in 
New York know anything about cotton or tobacco? 
Mr. Gray. He does not need to know. 
Mr. KincHELOE. He does not need to know? He is supposed to 
be representative of the farmer. 
Mr. Gray. He is, for the commodities produced in that district. 
Mr. KiNncHELOE. So that if there comes up in the northwest a 
question of whether they are going to have an operating period on 
cotton he has to represent his people up there, but what information 
has be got about cotton to intellicently represent them or anybody 
else? 
Mr. GrAY. If he lives in a district and is a member of the advisory 
council in a district where cotton is not grown he is not consulted in 
any operations relative to cotton. 
Mr. KincHELOE. What is the reason he is not? 
Mr. Gray. The amendment we are coming to. I believe, will answer 
your question. 
Mr. KincrELOE. Now, what amendment is that? We have been 
coming to them for some time. Let us see what one that is. 
Mr. JoxEs. It is on page 2. 
Mr. Gray. It is the amendment at the top of page 2 in the sheet 
which has been distributed, applicable to section 7 of the bill. You