AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 
517 
(f/) The Federal trade and agricultural systems shall aid in maintaining for the 
cooperative organizations an equal right in trade, as contrasted with the business 
organizations. 
(9) The Federal agricultural system shall frame ideal systems for use by the 
various wholesale and retail cooperatives, including uniform accounting. 
(h) Competition between the distribution by the cooperatives and the business 
organizations is hereby declared an established policy. 
Sec. 8. FEDERAL LiceEnse.—A Federal license shall be taken out by each 
Federal agricultural organization, in accordance with the provisions in the Federal 
trade act. 
Sec. 9. Funps.—Each Federal agricultural organization shall provide its own 
funds, and in accordance with the provisions in the Federal trade act, section 10. 
Sec. 10. AprprroPRIATION.—For the expenses of the Federal agricultural com- 
mission until the beginning of the fiscal year in 1928 there is hereby appropriated 
out of the moneys in the United States Treasury, the sum of $ . 
Sec. 11. RerorTts.— Reports shall be issued in the Federal agricultural system, 
and in accordance with the provisions in the Federal trade system unity act, 
section 11. 
Sec. 12. INvEsTIGATIONS. Each Federal agricultural organization shall from 
time to time investigate such parts of the Nation’s activities as it is regulating, 
and the said organizations shall keep informed as to the manner and the methods 
whereby the same is being conducted, and is authorized to obtain information 
that will enable it to perform its duties. 
(b) A representative of the organization, properly authorized, shall, by each 
person, firm or corporation that is being regulated, be given access to the books 
and other sources of information concerning the subject matter being investi- 
gated. The representative may make a copy of such parts as are deemed rele- 
vant. All information received shall be held in strict confidence until released 
by order of the organization; and it shall retain in confidence the trade secrets 
and methods of operation except as publicity is provided by law. 
Sec. 13. WirnNessEs.—(a) The agricultural parliament and each of its 
branches may call witnesses, either to testify or to produce documantary evidence 
relating to any matter under investigation. The request to attend as a witness 
may be signed by a member of the executive staff or by its examiner, who also 
may administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses and receive evidence. 
(b) Such attendance of witnesses may be required from any place in the 
Nation at any designated place of hearing, and testimony may be taken by depo- 
sition, by order of a member of the executive staff or by an examiner, before any 
one having power to adminster oaths. Any person may be compelled to appear 
and depose and produce documentary evidence in the same manner as in other 
proceedings. 
(¢) Witnesses summoned before an organization or before an examiner or for 
the taking of deposition, shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid to 
witnesses in the State circuit court. 
(d) No person shall be excused from attending and testifying or from pro- 
ducing documentary evidence on the ground or for the reason that the testimony 
or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of him may tend to criminate him 
or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture: Provided, That no natural person shall 
be prosecuted or subjected to penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any trans- 
action, matter, or thing concerning which may testify, or produce evidence, 
documentary or otherwise, before the organization or examiner or in making 
deposition, except for perjury while testifying. 
(e) For compelling witnesses to appear and testify the organization and the 
examiner are herewith clothed with the same power which the United States 
district judges are invested. 
Sec. 14. To Conpuct REsEARCHES.—Each agricultural organization provided 
for in this act shall investigate and report on such subjects concerning its industry 
as may be assigned it by Congress or by either house. or by the President. and shall 
act promptly. 
Sec. 15. INTERVENTION.—Any person, firm, or other organization may make 
application to be heard in connection with a proceeding before the Federal Agri- 
cultural commission or an agricultural organization provided for in this act, or 
ask to be accorded the right to appear to question a witness, and upon good cause 
being shown, to be reduced to writing and filed, may by the presiding officer be 
allowed to intervene. 
Sec. 16. ExisTiING REGULATORY POWER IN AGRICULTURE.—(a) The existing 
regulatory power of the Federal Department of Agriculture shall be exercised 
through the Federal agricultural commission created bv this act.