AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
599 
It would be almost impossible to get that information, because vou 
would have to go to the processing people, the same as you would 
have to go to the packing people. 
3 Mr. KercaaM. You have given the amount involved in distribu- 
tion? 
Mr. Yoakum. Distribution; that is Exhibit A. 
Mr. KerceEaM. Can you recall what the totals of distribution are? 
Mr. Yoakum. Yes, I can. I will give them, the total charge. 
Mr. KercraMm. I would like to have it put right there. at that 
point in your statement. 
Mr. YoakuM. I have got it here, tabulated. 
Mr. Kercaam. That will be exactly what I want. 
Mr. Yoakum. I refer to Exhibit A, and I am going to insert it. 
If you want, it can be placed right where you want it. 
(The statement referred to and subnutted bv Mr. Yoakum is as 
follows?) 
EXHIBIT A 
Farmers received for 17 standard products 
(Department of Agriculture.) 
For the same food products consumers paid 
37, 500, 000, 000 
292 500. 000. 000 
Cost of distributing the above seven and one-half billion dollars 
of food products: 
For transportation of this foodstuff, for which consumers 
paid the above enormous cost the railroads received 4 per 
cent of total cost to consumers, or____ _. i} 
After the products were delivered at destination terminals, 
liberally estimated, the cost of trucking from terminals to 
warehouses, cold storage, and exnressage, 10 per cent of 
total cost to consumers, or______.. _- - 
Allowing liberal profits and commissions to distributers who 
turn their business at least once a month, this being equal 
to 20 per cent of total to consumers, or_ _ 
900. 000. 000 
2 250. 000. 000 
1. 500, 000, 000 
A legitimate distribution cost aside from transportation between 
- producer and consumer amounting to__________._. ._.___._. 
Added to this the amount received bv the farmers was____. 
7, 650, 000, 000 
2 £00. 000. 000 
The total amount received by farmers and a legitimate 
cost for distribution_ ____. _ —__.__ 15,150. 000, 000 
Adding the many unjustifiable and unnecessary commissions, 
profits, rake-offs, etc., between the farm and the table makes 
the farmers’ income less than thev should actually receive by. 
7, 350, 000, 000 
Total of these amounts_ ...___. _. ._. oe _.___._ 22,500, 000, 000 
Amount received by farmers for 17 standard food products is actual. (Depart- 
ment of Agriculture report.) 
Item No. 1 is actual. (Interstate Commerce Commission report.) 
Ttems Nos. 2 and 3 are results of close and careful investigation. 
Mr. Yoakum. Would the farmers combine in such an association? 
If not, why? First it will be the farmers’ own organization, con- 
trolled and operated by themselves in their own interest. It would 
improve marketing, direct shipments more effectively, and stabilize 
prices, enabling them to get more for their wheat and a dependable 
return. 
It is hardly necessary to comment on that. But that is the basis 
of credit. So long as the producers are not organized and prices are 
not stabilized, the banker does not know whether the farmer is going 
to et 85 cents or $1.25. Just as in the other commercial propositions.