AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
19 
the cooperative association rather than the initiative being in the 
board. 
Mr. Gray. A similar feature was in the bill as it was passed last 
ear. 
y Mer. Fort. I am trying to get clear what your purpose is. That is 
your purpose, to shift initiative from the board to the geographical 
councils or, in the alternative, to the cooperative associations. 
Mr. Gray. Providing those councils represent in the aggregate 50 
per cent of the commodity which needs the service of the Federal 
Farm Board. 
Mr. Fort. They represent the territory, however, on the geo- 
graphical basis instead of the commodity basis. They represent the 
territory where 50 per cent of the commodity is produced, but they 
do not necessarily in person or through direct knowledge represent 
the commodity itself, do they? For example, the council of the 
Federal land bank district in which California is situated, might 
not include a single raisin grower. but vou have made this bill apply 
to all commodities—— 
Mr. Gray. It would be barely possible, in that condition, that a 
raisin grower might not be in the western council. 
Mr. Fort. And all of the raisins of the country substantially 
being raised in that Federal land bank district, you are putting in 
the hands of the commodity council in which they may have no 
representation whatever, the sole right to initiate any action in be- 
half of the raisin growers. 
Mr. Gray. That is safeguarded by the provisions which we read 
yesterday in making up the advisory councils, where conventions are 
called for the purpose of nominating and selecting the members of 
the advisory councils. 
Mr. Fort. It is if the raisin growers, constitute a substantial 
number of individuals compared to the total number of farmers in 
that district, but not otherwise. 
Mr. Gray. Yes; otherwise. 
Mr. Fort. How? 
Mr. Gray. If the volume of business in aggregate dollars justifies it. 
Mr. Fort. Where is that in the bill? 
Mr. Gray. It is not in the bill. 
Mr. Fort. That is what I am getting at. 
Mr. Gray. Neither is the numerical feature in the bill. It is up 
to these conventions, Congressman Fort, for the selection of the 
members of these district advisory councils, and these conventions 
are composed of delegates from the producers in those different 
districts. 
Mr. Fort. I don’t think you have that anywhere in the bill, 
have you? 
Mr. Gray. Wouldn't it be right in the amendment we read yester- 
day relative to the make-up of the councils, where it is proposed that 
each council shall be selected annually—I am reading from section 
4. paragraph a, which I read yesterday: 
The members of the council shall be selected annually at a convention called 
to meet at such time and place as the board designates by proper notice sent 
to the farm organizations and cooperative associations in the district eligible 
to participate in such convention. 
Mr. Fort. You do not define eligibility.