GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 887 



7. The Commodity Credit Corporation should continue to provide price- 

 support loans. It should be required that these loans be at 100 percent of a 

 revised parity price. 



8. Farmers are universally agreed that the support loan is the most effective 

 method, if adequate storage facilities are available, so that no farmei" will ever be 

 ■compelled to sell below parity because of a seasonal marketing glut. 



9. There should be adequate reserves of all nonperishable commodities to 

 protect consumers and farmers alike. The storage program should include a large 

 supply on farms or at county storage warehouses. 



10. The powers of the Commodity Credit Corporation should be enlarged to 

 make it the agency through which surpluses over the amount of each crop used 

 in normal domestic consumption are disposed. It should have wide powers for 

 disposing of surpluses through exports at the world price, through participation 

 in food programs for the low-income group, through subsidizing new uses for farm 

 products in industry, and any other means which the producers approve. 



11. The cost of conservation practices other than long-range programs such 

 as removal of submarginal land from cultivation and repairing of major damage 

 through past abuse, should be added to parity prices so these practices can be 

 carried forward without Government subsidy. If this is done, each farmer will 

 receive an amount above paritv to pay for good land use practices. If he does not 

 elect to carry them out, having received this mone.v when he disposed of his 

 output, he should be required to return it to the Government to help finance long- 

 range conservation programs carried out in the public interest. 



12. The cost of a Xation-wide crop insurance progi'am should also be added to 

 the revised parity price. This amount, obtained by each individual farmer in 

 marketing his products, would also be paid into a crop insurance fund to provide 

 protection for all farmers again.st the uncertainty of weather conditions. Farmers 

 feel that those engaged in other businesses include the cost of insurance in the 

 prices they charge their customers. They see no reason why farmers alone should 

 take the cost of insurance out of their profits or else risk disastrous losses by going 

 without such protection. 



13. ^lethods by which a farm price-support program can be kept self-financing 

 were developed as a result of wide discussion at the meetings- The way in which 

 the program will operate is fully explained in the accompanynig bill. This bill 

 has been drawn up for the Daily Republic by an attorney formerly connected 

 with the House drafting bureau in Washington who participated in writing farm 

 legislation during the 1930's. The Daily Republic engaged this attorney to draw 

 up the bill in order to be sure that it is constitutional and correct in procedure. 

 It is not to be introduced or pi-esented to Congress in its present form. It is being 

 distributed for discussion and criticism by small farmer groups in many parts of 

 the United States. When the criticisms have been obtained, the bill will be re- 

 vised on the basis of suggestions received. It will then be presented to the proper 

 committees in the Senate and House. The Daily Republic has reason to believe 

 that because it will be a true grass roots measure, it will receive the utm.ost atten- 

 tion in Congress. 



You will note that the conservation section of the enclosed bill is an actual 

 raieasure introduced in the House this session by Representative Clifford Hope 

 of Kansas. It is to be considered as part of the bill, and subjected to the same 

 criticisms and suggestions as the price-support portion. Representative Hope is 

 furnishing copies of this measure, and is much interested in obtaining frank and 

 honest criticism of its provisions from the grass roots. 



Mr. Pace. We will next hear from Mr. Benjamin C. Marsh, execu- 

 tive secretary of the People's Lobby, room 3110, 810 F Street NW., 

 Washington, D. C. We will be glad to hear from you, Mr. Marsh. 



STATEMENT OF BENJAMIN C. MARSH, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 

 PEOPLE'S LOBBY, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Mr. Marsh. In view of the fact that my statement is before j^ou, 

 I will not read it. That will just be taking it a second time. I would 

 like to comment on it, if I may, and some of the statements that have 

 been made, because I think it is rather questionable whether you will 

 be able to enact a long-term program at this session of Congress. 

 But I would like to submit, and have in this brief which you now have 



