AGRICULTURAL RELIEF

Mr. Taser. The debenture plan will make it operate effectively to
the tune of $15,000,000.

Mr. KincHELOE. As a matter of fact, so far as tobacco is concerned,
{ fear it will not help it, and it is nonsense to be talking about a tariff
on this dark tobacco or any other tobacco that is exported.

Mr. Taser. My friend, you do not understand what I am driving
at; you do not understand our plan.

Mr. KincHELOE. No; I do not.

Mr. Taser. I am trying to point out that the export debenture
ralue on tobacco would have been $15,000,000 in America each year
for five years. That is what I was trying to say, and I am trying to
say, that the export debenture value as fixed by the bill—our rates
are not perfect—may be too high or too low, but we think they are
right, and they have been worked out very carefully.

Mr. KixcHELOE. Would it work?

Mr. Taser. If you will turn to the schedule, which will be ex-
blained to you to-morrow, you will see it will work. It will raise——

Mr. Aswerr. Without a tariff?

Mr. TaBer. There ought to be a tariff.

Mr. AswerL. I say, does it work without a tariff %

Mr. TaBer. It can be made to work without a tariff.

Mr. AsweLr. If there is no tariff, how will it work?

Mr. Taser. I did not want to get into that detail, Mr. Aswell, but
ve will do it.

Mr. AsweLL. You raised the question and I want you to explain it.

Mr. Taper. We provide under the bill—may I read section 8, pace
132 [Reading :]

313

Pending the enactment of legislation providing a tariff duty on cotton, regcu-
lations requiring that metal tags or other appropriate markings be placed on all
bales of cotton produced in foreign countries and allowed transit through the
"nited States for exportation may be prescribed by the board.

That is to prevent cotton coming in and drawing a debenture value
that was not n*~luced on ap American farm.

Mr. Swaxg Mid vay eay there ought to be a tariff on cotton ?

Mr. Taper. [ vr." ceason it would simplify the operations
of the bill very muc

Mr. Swank. The
rents a pound.

Mr. TaBer. Yes; they provide 2 cents a pound.

Mr. Swank. That would be % cents whether any tariff was on
zotton or not, would it not?

Mr. Taper. If there were no fraud, it would worx.

Mr. Swaxk. How much now on cotton ¢

Mr. Taser. About $69,000,000.

Mr. Kincueroe. Whenever the domestic price becomes higher than
*he world’s market without a tariff 2

Mr. Taner. By requiring at the ports of entry the tagging and the
stamping of every bale of cotton that comes in and then providing
a heavy penalty for removing those tags, it could be made to work.
There ought to be a tariff on cotton to prevent Egypt an long-staple
~otton replacing American cotton.

Mr. KincHELOE. As I say, do you know how we are going to keep
but imports into this country upon which there is no tariff whenever
the domestic price becomes hicher than the world’s price?

EW.