50 
AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
Mr. Fort. Mr. Gray, you made it very clear that you have no 
personal opinions, but that they are purely official. You have read 
the resolution adopted at the farm bureau meeting in December, 
specifically approving the McNary-Haugen bill. Was the bill that 
they then specifically approved presented to them in the form of 
House bill 7940, or was it the bill that passed the last session of 
Congress under that name, or was it the bill that Senator McNary 
has introduced in the Senate, which varies from H. R. 7940? 
Mr. Gray. Your question, Congressman Fort, can not be an- 
swered with precision, because it is not stated in conformity with the 
conditions which existed. In the resolution which I read awhile ago 
we did not approve any particular issue of the McNary-Haugen bill. 
The words are these: 
We insist that legislation which contains the principles embodied in the 
McNary-Haugen bill, with such improvements as experience and good judg- 
ment may suggest, shall again be passed by the Congress. 
That does not put any catalogue number on at all, relative to any 
ziven bill. 
Mr. Fort. That reads ‘Be again passed by Congress.” It refers 
to the principals of the McNary-Haugen bill as previously passed. 
Mr. Gray. Yes. 
Mr. Fort. Whose authority have you officially, therefore, since 
you have no individual opinion, to make the modifications in the 
bill as it passed last session, that you are submitting to this committee? 
Mr. Gray. Reading the resolution again, we find these words: 
With such improvements as experience and good judgment may suggest, shall 
again be passed by Congress. 
Mr. Fort. Now that experience and good judgment, then, is 
yours as an individual? 
Mr. Gray. Not at all. 
Mr. Fort. What is it? 
Mr. Gray. In conference with President Thompson, in conference 
with Mr. E. A. O'Neil, chairman of my legislative committee, in 
conference with Charles Hearst, of Towa, president of the Iowa Farm 
Bureau Federation, member of my legislative committee, in tele- 
graphic conference with George M. Putnam, president of the New 
Hampshire Federation and also third member of my legislative 
committee, it has been decided that such amendments and changes 
as are incorporated in the present Haugen bill, H. R. 7940, do not 
violate the fundamental principles embodied in what we know as the 
general principles of the McNary-Haugen legislation. I am not 
voicing my personal opinion. I am voicing my authoritative opinion. 
Mr. Fort. That is what I want to get at. "Are all those gentlemen 
here except those you referred to that you got in telegraphic com- 
munication with? 
Mr. Gray. They will be here to-morrow. 
Mr. Fort. Will you be good enough to-morrow to interview them 
officially and advise us officially whether the American Farm Bureau 
Federation favors the adoption of the McNary-Haugen bill with the 
eaualization fee, and will accept no alternative bill? 
Mr. Gray. What is your purpose in putting on the last clause? 
Mr. Fort. You say you can not express a personal opinion; you 
can only express an official opinion. You have been asked here to-day