106

AGRICULTURAL RELIEF

Mr. GrRENNAN. No, sir; not unless you put us on a basis that we
can pay it back. On this basis we can pay this loan back, and
everybody knows it. We are not asking for any-loan at all unless
you gentlemen want us to buy the marketing facilities so we can close
the gap between the producer and the consumer; and as far as that is
concerned, the cooperatives would not have any trouble whatever to
force in anybody that did not come into it, if they got the marketing
facilities. Of course, that is the ideal thing.
Mr. Hope. You are familiar with these bills we are discussing now,
are you?
Mr. GrEnNaN. Not any more than what I heard here.
Mr. Hore. Well, in a general way. By taking the equalization
fee out of that bill and passing it otherwise substantially as it is, do
you think that would be of any substantial assistance to the farmer?
Mr. GrENNAN. Do you mean that insurance plan?
Mr. Hope. No. I mean taking out the equalization fee feature,
taking that out of the Haugen bill, do you think that would solve the
problem, so far as the men you represent are concerned?
Mr. GrRenNAN. Why, absolutely not.
Mr. Hope. You think it would not?
Mr. GreENNAN. No, absolutely not. You have nothing there to
control your production. This thing automatically controls its own
production. :
Mr. Hore. It is your contention it would not do the farmer any
good if that law was passed without the equalization fee?
Mr. GRENNAN. Yes, sir.
Mr. Hore. Is it your contention that it would not do the farmer
any good if that is allowed to stand?
Mr. GrennNaN. What? |
Mr. Hore. The equalization fee.
Mr. GRENNAN. Why, certainly it would. Absolutely. The equalization
 fee is all right in there, because at the end of the year if you
men want to take this surplus I have left, that is all right. You can
take it. You know exactly what it is.
Mr. Apkins. Suppose a feature was put in the law that provided
that if, for instance, the corn farmers should increase their acreage
and produce a larger acreage than they had in the preceding five
years, then it would not operate, don’t you think that would discourage
 increased production?
Mr. GRENNAN. I am awfully afraid of anything of that kind unless
the farmer is going to share his share of the surplus.
Mr. Apkins. What I mean is if he produces more acreage than the
preceding five-year average he would have to look after himself.
Do you think that would discourage him in increasing the acreage
and the surplus?
Mr. GRENNAN. Why, sure.
Mr. PurNELL. It is past 12 o’clock. Are there any gentlemen on
the committee who wish to question Mr. Grennan any further
to-morrow? :
Mr. Fort. Mr. Grennan, you offer for the record, I think, your
plan in writing. You have it, have you not?
Mr. GRENNAN. Yes, I have it here. :
Mr. PurNELL. Without objection, then, will you leave your plan
with the committee for its consideration?