Evening star., 1962-08-23
Jacobs Recalls Estes
Threats as Big Talk

the information that such
transfers were being questioned
and in one instance rejected
was being passed down so the
county farm committee could
take proper action" When
farmers received notices of ap-
proval from a county commit
tee, Mr.. Jacobs added, the
farmer should not be penalized
for performing as the county
committee said he could"
Mr.. Jacobs said he first heard
of the transfer of cotton allot-
ments soon after he returned
to the Agriculture Department
in 1861 as an appointee of the
new Kennedy administration.
But he said he was not aware
that it was a problem until
farm officials in Alabama pro-
tested the transfer of cotton
allotments from that State to
Texas and were upheld by the
department.
Not Sure Information Passed
He said he was unable to say
whether the information re-
garding the Alabama decision
was passed on to farm commit
tees in Texas and other States
He added that he agreed II
should have been done and
would accept his part Of the
responsibility if it were not
done. But. he pointed out, this
did not fall into my sphere OF
responsibility"
He also testified that he con-
Cured in a recommendation by
Thomas H. Miller, acting South
west area director of the Agri-
cultural Sterilization and Con-
servation Service, for a full
investigation of the cotton al
lotment transfer.
Mr.. Jacobs invoked the Fifth
Amendment constitutional pro-
lection against possible self in
elimination last month in re-
fusing to answer a number OF
questions in a Federal grand
jury investigation of Estes
schemes.
Offered q. S. Post
The witness, who makes his
home in Oklahoma City, testi-
flying yesterday he was called
to Washington after the elec-
ton of President Kennedy and
offered a position by Secretary
of Agriculture Freeman.
Mr.. Jacobs, who worked for
the National Farmers Union
and was in private business
during the eight years Of the
Else hover administration
said he was not surprised al
being offered a position. 81
had rather hoped I would have
a place in this administration, y
he told the subcommittee.
He became deputy admins
traitor for state and county op-
erations in the Agricultural
Sterilization and Conservation
Service.
Mr.. Jacobs was an attentive
listener in yesterdays hearing
during the testimony OF
Mr.. Miller. Mr.. Miller related
the circumstances under which
he was sent to Texas under in
structions from Mr.. Jacobs, he
told the subcommittee, to pre-
pare a favorable report or
Estes cotton deals.
He said Mr.. Jacobs told him
he wanted a report containing
every justification he could
find" to permit retention OF
cotton allotments obtained by
Estes.
Mr.. Miller testified that the
former official mentioned the
name Of Undersecretary
Charles S. Murphy. He added
that Mr.. Jacobs left the i'm
preston with him that Mr.
Murphy, who is expected tc
testify next week, would be
agreeable to receiving a report
favoring retention of the cot
ton allottments. The allott.
ments had been cancelled anC
then the order was held uI
after a meeting held last Janu.
ary 6 in Mr.. Murphy's office.
However. Mr.. Miller said Mr.
Jacobs did not tell him the Sec.
retary wanted a report favor.
ing Estes. He also said he. hao
never talked with Mr.. Murphy
about it.
AS the subcommittee ha.
been told before, Mr.. Miller saiC
he wrote such a report which
was contrary to his convictions
He explained that 81 was sim.
ply being loyal in carrying out
instructions from my superior.
He described Mr.. Jacobs a.
being ION the team, so to speak
Of the Secretary on down."
During Mr.. Miller's testi-