corn and wheat, and it is the preliminary step which must be taken before a quota is to be placed. If the Secretary's findings conform to the language of the bill, then the Secretary calls a public meeting at which time he tries to ascertain the facts. He does not need to do that, because the Bureau of Agricultural Economics would have all this data in its possession long before, and in better shape than the farmers could give it. But it is an attempt to show that they are very fair to the farmer in calling a meeting and in getting the facts and statistics. As to cotton, as to tobacco, and as to rice, no meetings of this kind are called whatsoever.
Mr. O'MAHONEY. In other words, the wheat and com farmers are the only farmers to be called in under this section?
Mr. McNARY. Exactly, and for a useless purpose, because, I repeat, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, would have all this data in their possession long before and in better shape than the farmers could give it.
Mr. POPE. Mr. President, may I ask the Senator from Oregon one question?
Mr. McNARY. Yes.
Mr. POPE. Whenever the Senator finds different treatment of different commodities in connection with this bill, be immediately asserts that the com and wheat farmers are discriminated against; and he makes that assertion in connection with this particular amendment. Will the Senator state clearly, and as simply as he can, in what way the corn and wheat farmers are discriminated against in connection with marketing quotas?
Mr. McNARY. I have stated in this instance, as I have done probably seven or eight times before, that the discrimination has been against the wheat and corn fanners in favor of the producers of rice, tobacco, and cotton, because in the case of those commodities, whenever there is a requirement of any kind, whenever the Secretary is given any power whatever, whenever a rule or regulation is promulgated, those commodities are taken out of the bill, and again adjustment contracts are required of wheat and corn growers, and various benefits are withheld and penalties imposed. When you went out to the folks at home, you told them that they would be called into a meeting, and that if certain crops were found to be in excess of certain percentages the movement for a quota would be started. This is preliminary to the establishment of a quota. It is the first step. When you came in here with the bill, you required the wheat and corn producers to come to these meetings; you reduced the percentage; you cut out entirely the requirements as to the cotton and tobacco and rice producers. They are all the first movements, the initiatory proceedings, to bringing about that which I think is the cruel thing in this whole matter—the imposition of a quota upon all these commodities.
Mr. POPE. Mr. President, does the Senator regard it as a cruel thing to the wheat and corn farmers to advise with them before such a quota is put into effect? I do not know whether that is wise or not; but does the Senator regard it as a cruel and discriminatory thing to call them in, advise with them, and ask them whether they want it or not?
Mr. McNARY. Oh, no; the Senator from Idaho did not get the application of the word I used. Bringing the farmers together in a meeting is a useless thing. It is a foolish thing. It is an unnecessary inconvenience. The cruelty, as I have stated and as I think we shall be able to demonstrate, comes in the quota, and the punishment which follows for disobeying the quota. That is the cruelty; but this is the preliminary step which you take after you get the farmer to the meeting, before you place him on a quota and provide a punishment for his noncompliance with it.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time of the Senator from Oregon on the amendment has expired. The question is on agreeing to the amendment reported by the committee. Without objection, the amendment is agreed to.
Mr. McNARY. Mr. President, I cannot permit it to be said that the amendment is agreed to without objection. If that were done, the Record would carry the impression that the Senate was unanimously in favor of the amendment. I certainly wish to urge my most hearty and stout opposition to the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair will again put the question after the amendment is stated by the clerk.
The Chief Clerk. On page 24, line 4, it is proposed to strike out "any major agricultural commodity" and insert "wheat or corn."
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendment reported by the committee.
The amendment was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the next amendment of the committee.
The next amendment was, on page 24, line 8, after the word "percentage" and the colon, to strike out "Cotton, 15 percent; wheat, 20 percent; field corn, 10 percent; tobacco, 10 percent; or rice, 10 percent" and insert "Wheat, 10 percent; corn, 10 percent."
Mr. O'MAHONEY. Mr. President, I desire to call up the amendment, printed several days ago, and offered on behalf of my colleague [Mr. Schwartz] and the two Senators from Colorado [Mr. Adams and Mr. Johnson], perfecting the committee amendment by striking out "10 percent" with respect to corn and inserting "15 percent."
I trust that the managers on behalf of the committee will accept the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming offers an amendment to the amendment reported by the committee, which will be stated.
The Chief Clerk. On page 24, line 11, in the committee amendment, after the word "corn," it is proposed to strike out "10 percent" and in lieu thereof to insert "15 percent."
Mr. BORAH. Mr. President, what is it that is changed to 15 percent?
Mr. O'MAHONEY. Mr. President, the provisions of the bill as reported by the committee are to the effect that whenever the Secretary finds, at the beginning of the marketing year, that the supply of wheat or com will exceed the normal supply by more than a certain percentage, the Secretary shall call the meetings of which the Senator from Oregon [Mr. McNary] was speaking a short while ago. The Department of Agriculture has been of opinion that these meetings should not be held until, with respect to corn, the normal supply was exceeded by 20 percent. The House bill provides 15 percent and the Senate committee is advocating 10 percent. The change from 10 to 15 percent makes this provision of the bill agree with the House provision, and, in the opinion of those of us who offer the amendment, is an improvement from the point of view of the livestock interests.
Mr. McGILL. Mr. President, the original bill provided for 10 percent in the case of corn.
Mr. O'MAHONEY. That is correct.
Mr. McGILL. I should like to know the attitude of the Senator from Iowa [Mr. Gillette] with reference to the proposal of the Senator from Wyoming, inasmuch as it affects the corn farmers more than any others.
Mr. GILLETTE. Mr. President, in response to the inquiry directed to me, expressing my personal views, I am in accord with the Senator's proposal; and I understand, further, that it has the approval and is in accordance with the desire of the Department of Agriculture. Am I correct in that statement?
Mr. O'MAHONEY. That is my understanding.
Mr. GILLETTE. Personally, I have no objection to the Senator's amendment.
Mr. POPE. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
Mr. O'MAHONEY. I yield to the Senator from Idaho.
Mr. POPE. I think there is a mistake in the last statement made by the Senator from Iowa, and that at this point the amendment is not in accordance with the desire of the Secretary.
In the letter, the Secretary said that he desired the original provisions of this bill, called the Pope-McGill bill, to remain. It is very easy to confuse two things here. With reference to the normal supply, in the original bill there was
