394 
AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
«fn what can it (money) be so useful as in promoting and improving the 
efforts of industry?” . . . . 
[ have briefly tried to sketch the fundamentals in the policy of industrial 
encouragement as outlined by Hamilton. I would call your attention to the 
close similavity of the principles of the debenture plan in the Ketcham bill with 
those outlined by Hamilton, which have practically become the economic law of 
the land. I respectfully submit that fundamentally there is no new principle 
involved. The Ketcham bill most readily harmonizes with the Hamiltonian 
theory of drawbacks and tariff remissions as means of assistance. If the one is 
just, the other is equally so. There is no difference in the last analysis so far 
as the Treasury is concerned between this feature of our tariff policy and the 
debenture idea of the Ketcham bill. 
If by a loose definition of the word some would call the one a subsidy, the 
other is most certainly a subsidy also. If it is a subsidy to deflect a part of the 
customs revenue from the Treasury to our—as Hamilton says——* intrinsically 
preeminent occupation,” even though it is for the general welfare, it is most 
certainly a subsidy under the same definition to deflect money from the Treasury 
through the tariff by drawback, tariff remissions, and tariff rebates. 
The nature of the occupations of agriculture and manufacturing are essen- 
tially different, but their votaries are the same; they have the same ideals, 
hopes, and aspirations. The strict language of the law enacted for one group 
perhaps does not fit accurately the situation to be corrected in the other, but 
the principles of the law should be made equally applicable and effective, and 
to conform to the mechanical differences of the occupations concerned. 
Individual happiness depends upon the general prosperity, and justice and 
equality in legislative enactment is all that we ask. The rest remains with us. 
In concluding, gentlemen of the committee, may 'T commend to you the read- 
ing of the full text of Hamilton’s report on manufacture. It is, of course, to 
be found in the Congressional Library, in an individual volume, and also in 
other works of Hamilton. 
My references have been taken from the Life of Hamilton, volume 1, from an 
article entitled © Manufactures and Protection,” and from The Works of Alex- 
ander Hamilton, fourth volume, Federal edition, by Henry Cabot Lodge, pages 
70 to 202. I also refer you respectfully to the address of Hon. Marvin Jones, 
a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, which appears in the Con- 
gressional Record for January 6, 1928. 
A careful study of this report will do much to show the merit and justice 
of the Ketcham bill and the wisdom of adopting the export debenture plan as 
a necessary complement of our protective tariff system, 
JESSE NEWSOM, 
Master Indiana State Grange. 
Mr. Kercuam. Then, in addition, the committee will recall that 
in the announcement of those who are to offer testimony I included 
the name of Hon. Carl Vrooman, of Illinois, who is a very substan- 
tial farmer of that State—I think he operates something like 4,000 
acres, and was at one time, under a previous administration, Assist- 
ant Secretary of Agriculture and a very outstanding authority. He 
was forced to go home on account of pressing business engagements 
and sickness, and he left with the committee a very brief statement, 
which would probably be very much shorter than the statement he 
would have given had he had the privilege of appearing before the 
committee. I ask permission that it be inserted at this point. 
The Cmamman. Without objection it is so ordered. 
(The statement of Hon. Carl Vrooman referred to is as follows:) 
A STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE ExPORT DEBENTURE PLAN, BY CARL S. VROOMAN, 
FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE 
I desire to go on Tecord before this committee in support of the export 
debenture plan as the central feature in an effective farm relief plan. My draft 
of a complete and adequate farm relief bill includes several important features 
in addition to the export debenture idea, but I realize that the latter feature 1s 
the one which will work when lesser methods fail and is therefore the feature 
that will occasion most disenesion