AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
Mr. KincueLoe. Was that at a meeting of some kind, of official 
representatives? 
Mr. Gray. Yes. 
Mr. KincHELOE. Where was 1t? 
Mr. Gray. The last agreements were made in conference in this 
city. 
Rir. KincaErLoe. When was that? 
Mr. Gray. But the beginning of these changes has been under 
consideration all through the recess period. 
Mr. KincaerLoe. Well, it was finally agreed upon at a conference 
here at Washington. When was that? Before the Haugen bill was 
introduced? 
Mr. Gray. Saturday of last week, I think it was. 
Mr. KincaeLOE. Then it was after it was introduced? 
Mr. Crark. Who were present at the conference? 
Mr. Gray. Representatives of these groups, the names of wihch 
president Thompson read to you yesterday morning. 
Mr. Wirriams of Illinois. Mr. Gray, you stated In answer to a. 
question by Mr. Kincheloe that your organization was backing up its 
original position on the equalization fee? 
Mr. Gray. Yes. 
Mr. WirLiams of Illinois. That means that you would prefer to 
have Congress pass a farm relief bill containing an equalization fee, 
and have that vetoed and get no legislation, rather than have Congress 
pass the very best possible farm relief bill at this time? 
Mr. Gray. I could not answer your question as you state it. 
Mr. WirLiams of Illinois. You would rather have no bill than have 
one without an equalization fee? 
Mr. Jones. I would like to have an answer. 
Mr. Gray. I don’t agree, neither does this conference—and I think 
[ speak the unanimous voice of the conference—that we necessarily 
must expect a presidential veto on a bill such as we arenow advocating. 
Mr. WiLniams of Illinois. The President said in his veto message 
he could not approve it on account of the equalization fee, and he gave 
two reasons. One was that it was unconstitutional. He undoubt- 
edly will not change his position on that. The other was that it 
would destroy American agriculture. You don’t expect him to 
sign a bill with an equalization fee in it, do you? 
Mr. Gray. Yes, sir; as this bill is drawn. 
~ Mr. WiLLiams of Illinois. Then you are the only man in Wash- 
ington that knows what is going on, that even dreams that he will 
sign it. You are here asking the American Congress, after we have 
worked seven years, and worked hard, to get some real farm relief, 
to pass a bill that you and your organization are bound to know is 
going to be vetoed, and destroy the possibility of getting any kind of 
relief in this session. 
Mr. Gray. I don’t agree with you. 
Mr. Wirriavs of Illinois. I am not with you, as one favorable 
fo the equalization fee. 
Mr. Gray. To answer that question, I must come to another 
amendment which I was not going to bring up just now, but which I 
will, in response to Congressman Williams's question—— 
Mr. Fort {interposing). Before you leave this other point, may I 
ask have vou considered that part of the Attorney General's letter 
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