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