AGRICULTURAL RELIEF

425

anywhere that favors some other type of legislation. We are con-
fident that the export-debenture program can pass Congress, can be-
come a law, is constitutional, and will be fair to the producer and
consumer alike. It is the only program ever suggested that can be
made effective on the 1928 crop, and it is the only program that can
be operated in such a manner that all the costs paid by either con-
sumer or Government reflect to the pocket of the farmer.

We have concluded our testimony. We shall not bother the com-
mittee unless we are called before the committee. But we again
want to pledge to this committee the effort of an organization that
has but one purpose in its program here, namely the bettering of the
conditions of the men and women that produce the meal ticket for
this great Nation.

The CrairMaN. Thank you very much.

Mr. Jones. I was just going to ask this question: Did your or-
ganization throw any obstacles in the way of the passage of legis-
lation last year that was passed by the House?

Mr. Taser. We have never directly or indirectly as an organiza-
tion, before a committee of the House or Senate, or before the Chief
Executive of the United States, placed a single particle of obstacle
in the pathway of the bill sponsored by the distinguished gentleman
from the State of Towa; and we are entitled to the same considera-
tion for the Ketcham bill.

Mr. AxpreseN. I want to make a brief statement, if I may, before
we adjourn.

The CrairmaN. You are through, Mr. Taber ?

Mr. Taser. I have closed the case.

Mr. AxpreseN. Mr, Chairman, I have been a member of this com-
mittee for the past three years, and during that time I have been
using my best efforts toward securing farm-relief legislation which
will be of real benefit to the American farmer. The farmers are
entitled to a square deal at the hands of Congress and the administra-
tion, and no time should be wasted to secure the enactment of such
legislation.

Agriculture needs legislation at once, and I am sick and tired of
having the farmer used as a political football during campaigns
without any actual accomplishment. All the farm organizations
should make another attempt to get together within the course
of the next week to unite on a program for farm legislation. They
should present a united front upon one plan. and then there will
be né question as to final results.

I have studied all of the plans presented to the committee and
can see some good in-each one. However, the only plan which
appears to both directly and indirectly benefit the largest number of
farmers in this country, in my opinion, is the present McNary-
Haugen bill with the equalization fee in it. It goes to the heart
of the problem and should be given opportunity for trial. The
majority of farm organizations want this legislation, and the farmers
want to pay their own way. They are entitled to have it tried out
ander a sympathetic administration.

The Haugen bill, now before this committee, has met the majority
of objections of the presidential veto. The equalization fee in the
bill is to be administered bv a board appointed bv the President. so