Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16
FARM BILL SIGNED;
HOOVER ASKSFUND
President viii Request Con-
gress to Appropriate $780,.
600, 900 to Aid Agriculture.
By the Asseelatee Press

By the Associated Press.
President Hoover signed the farm re-
hef bill yesterday, thus making Law the
major part Of his program intended to
stabilize agriculture.
Tomorrow he will ask Congress for
$3.50, ooo, 900 Of the $500, ooo, 900 revolv-
mig fund authorized for loans to assist
the farmer owned and controlled sta
bilization corporations and cooper.
atives.
simultaneously he will begin selec-
ton of the eight men to compose the
Federal Farm Board, which is to adj
minister the fund and have authority
in agriculture comparable with that of
the Federal Reserve Board and the In
terstate Commerce Commission in their
spheres.
Secretary Hyde will request farm or
carnations and others interested to
suggest men for board appointments.
Mr.. Hoover hopes that within two
weeks he can select q board from this
personnel and that which already has
been proposed 10 him.
Two Seriously Considered.
Thus far Mr.. Hoover has made no
definite selections. but it Is known that
two being considered seriously are
James c. Stone of Lexington, KY,
president Of the Burley Tobacco Grow
ers' Cooperative Association, and Carl
Williams, z farm paper publisher Of
faFHAaPIy Af
the Federal Board Of Mediation.
Rather definite Information is avail
able that neither julius Barnes Of New
York, former president Of the United
States Grain Corporation, nor Frank O..
1owden, former Governor Of Illinois
and foremost among the advocates OF
the equalization fee plan Of farm relief,
viii be offered places on the board.
Both had been mentioned.
The President is understood to desire
men who have had successful experience
in the cooperative field, and especially
In handling basic commodities, such as
cotton, grain, live stock ana tobacco
The farm bill is the first important
legislation signed by President Hoover,
longest and most spectacular legislative
and political controversies In recent his
tory.
Consequently, far more than the usual
forS1a1ity attended the signing. Grouped
around the Chief Executive were Vice
President Curtis and Speaker Long
worth, who signed the bill yesterday
after the House and Senate had adopt
ed the conference report: Secretary
Hyde: Senator Watson Of Indiana, the
Republican leader. and all Of the House
and Senate conferees on the bill except
Senators Norris, Republican, Nebraska,
and Smith, Democrat, South Carolina.
Insisted on Debenture.
These two Senators we're hnsistent
upon retention Of the export debenture
plan even after the House had rejected
It, and so absented themselves. The
other conferees were Chairman McNary
of the Senate agriculture committee,
Chairman Haugen Of the House agricul-
tlire committee, Senators Capper, Re
publican, Of Kansas, and Ransdell, DEM
ocrat, Of Louisiana; and Representa-
ttves Purnell Of Indiana and williams
Of Kentucky and Asweu OF Louisiana,
Democrats.
The President used two pens In sign
ing. one Of which he presented to Sena-
tor McNary and the other TO Repre-
sentative Haugen. With one he wrote
his first name and with the other his
last
President Hoover described the farm
bill as "a constructive start at agrlcu1-
tural relief and as the most impor-
tant measure ever passed by Congress IN
aid Of a single industry"
His formal statement, issued several
hours after the actual signing, follows:
After many years Of contention we
have at last made constructive start
at agricultural relief with the most I'M
portant measure ever passed by Con-
in AID Af q SfnC1e industry
"As it would have introduced many
cross currents to have initiated any
movement toward the selection OF the
farm board until after the legislation
was completed, no steps have been
taken in this direction beyond the re-
ceipt Of several hundred recommends"
tons. It viii require two or three weeks
to make these selections. The choice
Of the board is not easy, for its MEM
bers must in a. measure be distributed
regionally over the country. 1t must At
the same time be chosen 50 as to rep
resent so far as possible each major
branch of agriculture.
Actual Experience Required.
Moreover, the board must be made
up Of men of actual farm experience.
and inasmuch as its work lies largely
in marketing In con Injunction with farm
co-operatives its membership should be
comprised OF men who have been actu-
ally engaged In directing farmers mar
keting organizations. 1t is desirable
that the board should have in its con-
stitution at least one man experienced
in general business and one with special
experience in finance.
IT am asking for preliminary appro-
priation of $50, 0oo, 900 at once out Of
the $500, 900 900 that has been author
lied, and as Congress VIII be in session
except for short periods, the board will
be able to present its further require
Ineats at almost any time"
RAIL RATES DECISION AWAITED.