382 
AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
I look forward to the time when there will be a graduation of im- 
port duties in the case of wheat, just as I feel that there should be 
a graduation of import duties, if you had duties in the case of cotton. 
Mr. Fort. Based upon grade? oo 
Mr. Stewart. Based upon grade, differentiating that which is upon 
an import basis from that which is upon an export basis. 
Mr. Jones. Differentiating as in the price of cotton. a different 
price for the different price. oo 
Mr. Fort. Would it not be sounder economically at this time—a 
better national policy—to make your debenture an inducement to the 
man to raise the better grades, the things that we do want rather 
than the things that we do not want in this country ¢ 
Mr. Stewart. I thing that is true. The experience under the 
English bounty brought out one interesting point, and that is that 
the effect of the bounty was to get the poorer grades out of the 
country. [Laughter.] 
Mr. Fort. We have certain grades of wheat, which are not used 
in this country except to a relatively small percentage, for instance, 
macaroni wheat, chiefly raised for export. The presence of these 
grades of wheat makes up our present statistical surplus to a large 
extent ? 
Mr. Stewart. To a large but not total extent. Often soft wheats 
are on an export basis. 
Mr. Fort. From year to year, however, we still want the soft 
wheat here in large amounts. But we do not want a large amount of 
macaroni wheat, do we? 
Mr. Stewart. No. 
Mr. Fort. Would it not be a better piece of legislation, from the 
picture you have drawn here, if, following what you said a while ago 
was the policy of a great many countries in establishing export boun- 
ties, you place bounties on the things we want a larger production of 
and no bounties on the things we do not want any production of? 
Mr. Stewart. I would say that there is in that principle some- 
thing to be considered; I do not think that is the sole consideration 
that should enter into the graduation of export premiums on grades. 
Mr. Fort. I am not saying it is, but should it not be a feature of 
legislation if we are going to adopt this legislation at all? 
Mr. Stewart. I think in some cases it could be a determining 
factor as to how you would graduate your bounties. 
Mr. Hope. Is it not true, Doctor Stewart, in a great many cases 
where we have odd grades, like wheat and cotton grown in different 
localities, and one quality is only adapted to that locality: is not that 
what makes the difference in a great many cases? 
Mr. Stewart. That is true. When we had the study made as to 
whether the wheat duty should be raised, we made it in Montana, 
North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. where your northern 
spring wheat is being raised. 
Now, gentlemen, if a study had been made in Oklahoma it might 
have revealed a difference in costs which might not have indicated 42 
cents a bushel. It might have been more; presumably it would have 
been less. There is perhaps a tendency to pick the areas where costs 
of production and marketing per bushel are highest. 
Mr. Forr. We are getting a little away from the thought. I wanted 
your opinion as an economist. Do you think it is good judgment