AGRICULTURAL RELIEF

727

The following is the telegram sent by L. W. Costello the secretary
of the farmers’ meeting, and Chairman Haugen’s reply thereto:
JANUARY 31. 1928.

G. N. Haugey,
Chairman House Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.:
~ Farmer delegates representing 16 counties and 18,000 producer-contract signers
met in convention Monday and unanimously went on record favoring the
McNary-Haugen bill with equalization fee and voted to wire vou to notify our
Representatives from this section and request their best efforts in the passage
of this bill.

L. W. CosTELLO,
vecrelary Greene County Farmers’ Association.

Dear MR. CosteLLo: I am in receipt of vour telegram of the 31st ultimo,
advising of the action of your association in going on record favoring the McNary-Haugen
 bill with the equalization fee, and wish to express mv appreciation for
the timely action of vour association.
With the continued economic depression, which seems to be generally acknowledged,
 and the urgent demand made by many for real farm-relief legislation it
would seem that we should have no difficulty in speedily enacting a measure
that would give material relief to the producers of agricultural commodities.
As usual we are met with strenuous opposition, especially in respect to the
equalization fee. As you know, many of us who have given the matter thought
and study, believe that the equalization fee is the all essential feature of the
bill. Just why anybody should object to the producers marketing their commodities
 in their own way and paying their expense, and receiving the profits
therefrom in proportionate share has not yet been satisfactorily explained.
True, a number have suggested appropriating large sums of money as a
gratuity, but all seem to agree that the making of a large sum of money available,
without setting up the required machinery, would be of no avail. Besides, with
one exception the farmers and representatives of farm groups have objected to a
subsidy or being placed in a position of asking for charity.
Others have suggested large loans. But, just now, what is most needed is the
establishment of a price for the products of the farm that will enable the farmer
to pay his debts, rather than to run him deeper in debt.
I need not say that it is pleasing and gratifying to receive letters and telegrams
»f encouragement and to have with us the numerous farmers and representatives
of farm groups, fighting with their backs to the wall, in their efforts to enact real
farm-relief legislation and especially for the retention of the equalization fee.
With the general backing of the measure, I trust that we may succeed.
G. N. Hauge.
NMarcH 1, 1928.

Mrs. L. A. DarNELL,
Clerk Committee on Agriculture,
House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.
Dear Mrs. DarNELL: My remarks before the House Committee on Agriculture
 on February 15, regarding farm commodity marketing under Federal
charters, were based upon my letter of February 8. to President Coolidge, a
copy of which is inclosed.
The President naturally referred that letter to the Secretary of Agriculture for
an expression of his views on the plan proposed.
As it relates closely to the subject discussed )efore your committee, I am
inclosing copy of a letter I have written to the President calling attention to
some of the comments made by the Secretarv of Agriculture.
Verv sincerely yours.

B. F. YoakUM.

FEBRUARY 29, 1928.
Dear Mg. PresipeENT: I received through Secretary Sanders a copy of Secre
tary of Agriculture Jardine’s letter to vou dated Februarv 14.