AGRICULTURAL RELIEF

Mr. M exces. Doctor Aswell, I did not make such a statement.
Dour: ANDERSON. I do not know: he would have to determine that.

octor.

Mr. ANDRESEN. On this question of constitutionality, whichever
side you might take or somebody else might take, it would only
be a matter of opinion anyway, would it not?

Mr. Anperson. I think it is a matter of opinion and of conscience.

Mr. FuvLmer. Mr. Anderson, just one question right there: Do
you contend that this agency under this farm board which is sup-
posed to fix fair prices on farm commodities under the Federal Farm
Board would be any more of a price fixing agency under the Gov-
ernment than the Interstate Commerce Commission which fix prices
for the railroads?

Mr. AxpersoN. That goes much further, because, of course, the
railroad is a quasl public institution and the commission not only
fixes the prices but also fixes the services that are to be rendered for
those prices.

The President objected to the bill on the ground that the bill
prohibited unreasonable discriminations between cooperatives with
whom contracts might be made, but did not contain any provision
prohibiting unreasonable discriminations between other agencies.
My understanding is that under the pending bill that objection has
been met.

The President objected to what he thought was a very cumber-
some and unworkable method of putting the power of the board in
operation. - That objection has to a very considerable extent been
met, If not completely met.

The President objected to an unconstitutional limitation upon his
power of appointment, which the bill in the last Congress carried;
and this objection is apparently met by the pending bill.

The President objected to the insurance proposal as it was written
in the bill of the last Congress. I understand the pending bill
contains no such provision.

I could discuss the insurance proposition to some length. I have
worked out some figures on it with respect to its operation in wheat.
Now, knowing what the possible or probable attitude of the com-
mittee will be on that subject, I will not take your time to do it.

Mr. FuLmer. Would you mind putting your figures in the record?

Mr. AxpersoNn. I would be very glad to put them in the reeord,
if I can make an explanation of them along with it. My impression
1s—I can give it very briefly: First of all the percentage of fluctua-
tions in the price of wheat are rather larger than they are in cotton,
they are, as my recollection goes, in some 28 years from 7 to 9 years
during which the price, in the last eight months of the year, has been
lower than it was during the first four months of the year. But there
have been very few years in which the price during some months in
the year was not lower.

All of which goes to show that so far as wheat is concerned the
insurance provision probably is not workable, and that if it were
workable it probably would be of very little advantage.

Now, Mr. Chairman, it is just about 12 o’clock, and I have finished
at least, in a brief, general way. }

(The data on insurance and accompanying statement submitted
nv Mr. Anderson are as follows?)

579