AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 31 would limit any more the authoritative recommendations which these advisory councils under this drafts are privileged to submit to the board. Mr. KercEaM. Yousee what I mean. It certainly seems to me, as you are setting up this board here in your bill, at least we ought to be safeguarded by some sort of a final review or the veto powers of the board itself. Mr. KiNncHELOE. Don’t you think that the more power you give the advisory councils the better the farmer is off? Mr. KercHaMm. Providing it is a commodity board, all well and ood. ¢ Mr. CLarRk. You have gotten back to my original proposition, that here is a buck-passing proposition. Mr. Gray. Mr. Chairman, if there are no more questions on this amendment, or, rather, on this series of amendments to section 4 and to section 7, I have finished—— Mr. KercaaMm. I will ask you this question. If I understand the idea of those who have been drafting these amendments correctly it is this, that the advisory board or council is intended for the benefit of the interests of the farmers in the districts they represent. Mr. Gray. Absolutely. Mr. Kercaam. That is right? Mr. Gray. Yes, sir. Mr. Kercaam. Now then, if I understand the question here it is that it is supposed that the farmers who are producing the crop in districts might oppose the findings of the advisory council. Is that right? Mr. Gray. The farmers might oppose the findings of the advisory councils? Mr. KercHaM. There might be a question of the farmers in the district represented by the advisory council not being in accord with the action of the council. Mr. Gray. Some members around the table here have suggested that this morning. Mr. Kerciam. That could happen? Mr. Gray. That could happen; yes. Mr. KincHELOE. May I ask you another question or two before you leave the stand? Mr. Gray. Certainly. Mr. KINCHELOE. At. whose suggestion were these amendments made in the new Haugen bill as pending, providing that the board shall be appointed by the President without any recommendations from the farmers’ organizations? Mr. Gray. It had its initiative, as far as my memory serves rue, in the first writing of the farm relief bill which we are advocating. The suggestion that the Federal farm board be built up in conformity with the usual practices in creating such boards, being appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, was subscribed to by all the farm organizations that were reachable at that time, which means the ones that were in this fight and were advocating this method of farm relief all through the last session. y Mr. KincHELOE. Was that agreed on at a convention of some ind? Nn @ a oO it 1 < * 3 o £ QO + 3 oO P= g ro a ~ Q - Oo oN oO ™ 0 °2 oO — 14 | | 1 53 be -— — 0 Pe © =} ~d 0 <q nn om 3 oN 0 oN 0 1 - -