Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-24
LEGGE IS GR|LLED
ON FARM RELIEF
Chairman, Under Inquiry as
to Fitness, Defends Prog
ress by Board.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Chairman Legge of the Federal Farm
Board today related his past connec-
tions with the farming industry ano
with the International Harvester Co
before the Senate agricultural commit
tee, which began consideration of the
nominations Of board members who
have been serving under recess appoint
ments since the board was organized
carly in the Summer.
The entire membership of the board
was present at the committee session
and Is of the II members of the COM
mittee were at hand. The two alb
sentee Senators we're Norris. Repub-
lican. Nebraska, and Shipstead Farmer
Labor. Minnesota, the former having
notified Chairman McNary of the in
ability to be present and the latter be-
ing Ill. In addition to the committee
members, Senator Brookhart, Repub-
lican, Iowa, was present and was per-
mitted to participate in the questioning
Of the board members.
McNary Explains Inquiry.
In opening the hearing, Chairman
McNary explained that 1t was customary
to call appointeeS for important Offices
to examine their qualifications.
Chairman Legge then was called &c
testify, taking seat at the end of a
long table surrounded by the Is Sena-
tors. In response to questioning from
McNary, he said that he had served as
head of the International Harvester Co.
and that prior to his work with that
concern he had long been connected
with agricultural pursuits, principally
live stock. He said he held small frac-
ton of l per cent of stock in the Har-
vester Co.. adding that he had no con-
nection whatever with any grain eX-
change, but that he had q few shares
in railroad companies. Legge also testi-
fled he had no connection with import
ing houses or foodstuffs concerns.
Under further questioning by Chair
man McNary the witness outlined the
general program of the board. Asked
If the board had been set up to take
care OF this years crop, Legge replied
Have Operated so Days.
ITO some extent. We cannot dc
everything in so days. Some folks think
we ought to build lot Of elevators and
SO on. but our time has not been long.
McNary inquired whether the board
required co-operatives to exhaust their
own sources of credit before the $780,
000, 900 farm relief fund would be used
Legge said no such rule had been
definitely laid down, but at the present
time all the board felt 1t could do was
to make supplemental loans, except in a
few cases.
Senator Caraway. Democrat. Arkan-
sas. took issue with this view, saying he
thought that was not the intent OF
Congl ess, while Legge said he under
stood the farm bill intended the fund
to be used as supplemental financing
and not primary.
Might Need Larger Fund.
If you want us to finance all agri-
culture you will have to give us $l0,-
900 100000, instead of $500, 1000, 600, y
Legge said. He added that many parts
of the farm act were not understand
able to the board.
Caraway then asked the witness If
the board expected to establish stabil-
ization corporations.
I'VE hope to in time" Legge said,
adding that the boards first effort was
to organize strong commodity body on
which to build its stabiliZation efforts.
He said this was already under way
for wheat.
The Senate committee then was told
by Legge that no effort had yet been
made by the board to set up advisory
councils for wheat so that the stabili-
zation of that commodity could be initi-
ated. He added the machinery under
the farm act did not permit stabiliZa-
ton to be accomplished faster than Is
now being attempted.
The chairman explained that efforts
were now under way to prepare the
grain industry for stabilization, but
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