AGRICULTURAL RELIEF

23

Vermont, where they produce but little wheat, might block theidea
of an operating period. That suggests to my mind the reason for
this change from the provision as it was written into the old bill.
The old bill provided for a Federal land bank advisory council.
This bill provides for a Federal land bank advisory district, an active
council from each Federal land bank district. I am satisfied in my
mind that is why the change is suggested.

Mr. KincHELOE. The only reason you have given why you pre-
ferred this to the old bill was on account of the trouble of getting the
old commodity councils together, on account of distance.

Mr. Gray. No.

Mr. KINCHELOE. What is your reason? That is the only one that

have heard you give.

Mr. AsweLL. May I ask this question: Does the commodity
council represent the commodity better than yours?

Mr. Apkins. That would be all right if you did not get some sort
of an arrangement that would put a lot of people of that sort on the
advisory council.

Mr. Jones. Let the witness proceed.

Mr. KincHELOE. Mr. Gray, the only reason I have heard you give
why you prefer this method of selecting an advisory council over the
other was because the territories were so remote that they would
have trouble getting them together.

Mr. Gray. No. That is one reason.

Mr. KixcaeLoe. That is the only one you have given us.

Mr. Gray. No. ’

Mr. KINcHELOE. What is the other one? Let us hear it again.
I didn’t hear it.

Mr. Gray. It gives the producers of the commodity in each
district more direction over the Federal farm board than was con-
tained in the commodity advisory council sections of the bill which
you approved last session.

Mr. KINCHELOE. In the bill that was passed last session the
advisory council was elected by the producers of that specific product.

Mr. GrAY. And here it is by the producers of the specific products
grown in each district.

Mr. KincHELOE. No. There may not be a bushel of wheat grown.

Mr. Jones. I would like to have you explain just in what par-
ticular it gives them more authority In just what respect does it
do that? 1 would like to.see that. You are referring to subdivision A
of section 7, as you offer the amendment?

Mr. Gray. Yes.

Mr. Jones. What additional power is given by your proposed
amendment over the power given in subsection 3 of section 7 of the
old bill, or the bill as pending? Just what additional authority is
given there?

Mr. Gray. Let me read:

I

When the advisory councils in districts which in the aggregate represent more
than 50 per cent of any commodity, or when a substantial number of cooperative
associations or other organizations of producers of the commodity in such districts
favor the full cooperation of the board in the marketing of the surplus of the
commodity, and whenever the board finds, one and two—

a Jones. Subdivisions 1 and 2 are the same as in the present

111.