AGRICULTURAL RELIEF

403

1. The producers of farm products, who are unable to secure the bene-
fits of protective tariff because they export a portion of their goods, should
ve permitted to secure equivalent benefits by means of export equalization
debentures, which, in effect, are export premiums resulting from waiver of
tariff.

2. Import tariff duties and export debenture premiums are inseparable
parts of a sound and complete program of national economic development.

3. In order to make import duties and export debentures equitably effec-
tive for easing such situations as the present agricultural depression, the
executive agencies. which would carry out the will of the Congress, should
be as far removed as possible from political bias and political pressure.

This principle of equitable adjustment, now so urgently required by agri-
culture, might at some later date and under circumstances similar to those
now existing in agriculture, be applied in behalf of other industries.

Export debentures are import drawbacks, insiruments of tariff remission
for equalizing the effects of the tariff and of other established Federal policies
now contributing to agricultural depression.

Export debentures would enable those portions of our staple products
which must seek markets abroad to zttain and hold that to which they are
equitably entitled, namely, a higher value in exchange for dutiable goods
from foreign lands. This enhanced value would apply to the total production
of the debenturable staples.

A sound debenture policy to lift penalties from the export branches of
our agriculture requires that debentures should be utilized upon individual
products only during periods in which exportable surpluses are depressing
the domestic market. Over-stimulation of the production for foreign sale
of any debenturable commodity should be guarded against by provisions for
automatic and rapid reduction of its debenture rate for the ensuing period.
Manufacturers using farm products, and livestock and dairy producers and
other agricultural producers, whose costs may be increased because of their
use of debenturable raw materials should be compensated for these increased
rusts by adjusted rates of duty and debenture.

Farm relief throuzh export debentures depends nei her upon appropria-
tions nor special taxes. By debenture method farm relief can be attained
with administrative simplicity, directness and ecenomy of operation.

Export debentures will not interfere with established marketing machinery
and will plice no disadvantage upon those who use cooperative methods in
buying or selling products. Without impairing established duties and without
special advantage or disadvantage to any importing agency. export debentures
would make our tariff system effective on those products which have exportable
surpluses: Therefore be it

Resolved, That the National Grange reaffirms its former declaration =upport-
ing the export debenture plan as the most effective and workable farm relief
plan, applied independently or in coordination with other sound remedies, and
on this basis stands ready to cooperate with anv group or organization in
bringing about immediate relief.
JESSE NEwsoM.
A. 8S. Goss.

E. A. ECKERT.
HARRY A. CaTtox.
D. H. AGANSs.

On the resolutions introduced by Brother Caton on tariff adjustment,
Federal Farm Board, stabilization cooperatives and production control, the
*ommit‘ee report them covered in their general report.

The report was discussed by Brothers Davis, Roxburgh, Ageans, Deal,
Harrison, Phillips. 8. S. Knight of California, and Professor Charles L.
Stewart ot the University of Illinois, and was adopted.

That is read into the record only that the foundation upon which
we stand may be made clear.

Mr. ANDRESEN. Mr. Taber, will you permit a question ?

Mr. TABER. Certainly.

Mr. AxpresEN. You represent the largest farm organization in the
[United States, as I understand it ?

Mr. Taper. That is correct.