AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
67 
then afterwards to hear us on the matter of the equalization fee and 
what it means to us in our cotton cooperatives. We could not even 
begin, in the few minutes left, to say anything about these matters; 
but may I hope that this committee, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, 
will give us such opportunity. The cotton cooperatives are large- 
scale organizations. There are other large-scale cooperative asso- 
ciations who would like to be heard along these same lines—the 
wheat growers, for instance. We have had a real experience. The 
tobacco growers is another organization that is a large-scale organi- 
zation. We have had a real experience during a number of years 
and we can give you a page out of our experience on the matter of 
the equalization fee. Now, we would hope that before you make up 
your minds as a committee you give us a chance to present this 
experience and what it means to us, and we can not do it in the few 
minutes left here this morning. 
Mr. KincHELOE. The committee has no thought of not hearing 
you gentlemen that I know of. 
Mr. Kincore. Well, that is all right. 
Mr. Jones. We will be very glad to hear you. 
The CratrMaN. While we want to expedite the hearings in every 
way possible, I don’t want to convey the thought that we are going 
to cut off any of you gentlemen who want to be heard. I do not 
think the committee is ready now to determine the question, before 
they have heard evervone that desires to be heard and is entitled to 
be heard. 
Mr. PurNeLL. The program, of course, Mr. Chairman, that we 
have agreed upon, is that we are not going to rehash farm conditions, 
but we are going to confine it as closely as possible to suggested 
remedies and changes in the pending bill. 
The CrAIRMAN. The committee 1s responsible for its acts, and 
so far as the members of the committee are concerned, they are 
responsible for their acts. If we are to expedite this matter, we had 
better stick to the subject. 
Mr. KinceeELOE. Mr. Chairman, I believe every member of this 
committee ought to have an opportunity to ask every witness that 
comes here any question he wants to. Why get stampeded on this 
proposition? I believe every member of this committee that wants 
to be heard or wants to ask any questions, ought to be heard, and I 
believe that everybody who opposes any kind of legislation and wants 
to be heard ought to be heard. 
The CrairMAN. I do not want to take up the committee’s time, 
but may I be pardoned for the suggestion we are getting away from 
the question entirely. We are talking about eliminating certain 
provisions of the bill, especially the equalization fee. No suggestion 
have been made as to what should be substituted. 
I take it that everybody agrees that the bill without an equaliza- 
tion fee will not accomplish the purposes of the bill. The declaration 
of policy states its purpose; that is, shall the declared policy be carried 
out, if not, what? The aim of the bill is made clear in a few sen- 
tences. And what is it? “To preserve advantageous domestic 
markets for such commodities.” That is one. Are we for that? 
Second, “To prevent such surpluses from unduly depressing the 
prices obtained for such commodities.” Are the producers entitled 
to that? We have been talkine about the surplus.