2006

AGRICULTURAL RELIEF
The question put by Mr. Fort, according to the transcript before us, is as
follows: . ) Co
«Whose authority have vou officially, therefore, sirce you have no individual
opinion, to make the modifications in the bill as it passed last session, that you
are submitting to this committee?’ }
This question was asked no doubt owing to the last sentence of a resolution
adopted upon farm relief at the ninth annual meeting of the American Farm
Bureau Federation, held December 5, 6. and 7, 1927, in Chicago, Ill. This
sentence reads: oo oo
“We insist that legislation which contains the principles embodied in the
MecNary-Haugen bill with such improvements as experience and good judgment
may suggest shall again be passed by Congress.” }
We wish to state over out official signatures that the bill, H. R. 7940, and the
amendments outlined to your committee by Mr. Gray, have our unequivocal
approval. These amendments are:
(a) Giving the advisory council somewhat more power.
“\ The insurance provision.
The so-called Neely amendment.
) Incorporating the second condition named in S. 1176, section 7, into H. R.
7940.
Somewhat further along in the hearing Congressman Fort asked the question
above quoted in a slightly different way, as follows:
“Will you be good enough to-morrow to interview them (referring to officials
of the American Farm Bureau Federation) officially and advise us officially
whether the American Farm Bureau Federation favors the adoption of the
Melary-Haugen bill with the equalization fee, and will accept no alternative
i Nid
To this question we wish to reply, as did Mr. Gray, namely, that our program
is a positive program. We have no authority given us and in our turn can not
give Mr. Gray any authority to support any bill other than one containing the
equalization fee principle.
If the Agricultural Committee of the House takes a negative position, whereas
ours is a positive one, that will be a responsibility which the members of the
tommittee must carry, and which we absolutely refuse to share.
Verv respectfully,

S. H. THOMPSON,
President American Farm Bureau Federation.
Epw. A. O'NEAL,
Vice President American Farm Bureau Federation
and Chairman Legislative Committee.
, GrorGE M. PuTNaMm,
President New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation
and Member Legislative Committee.
Cuas. IE. HEARST,
President Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
and Member Legislative Committee.

Mr. Aswerr. Mr. Chairman, I want to ask a question. If this
committee should fail to keep in exact step with Chester Gray, would
the committee be abolished by reason of that fact? }
Mr. KincBELOE. This has all been in the record once. Why duplicate
 the record by having it in again?
The CuairMaN. I thought it ought to go in the record.
Mr. KincrELOE. This final shot of Mr. Gray does not appeal to me.
Mr. AsweLL. I do not think this threat ought to be in the record.
Mr. KiNcHELOE. So far as I am concerned, when anybody begins
to try to browbeat this committee it does not take well with me, and
Mr. Gray does not get anywhere with me, as a member of this committee,
 by any threat. .
The CHARMAN. Very well, if there is no objection, it will be inserted
 in the record.
We will hear Mr. Morgan, who I understand comes representing
the dark tobacco people.