sioner or officer acting as such commissioner, or any grand or petit juror, or officer in or of any court of the United States, or officer who may be serving at any examination or other proceeding before any United States commissioner or officer acting as such commissioner, in the discharge of his duty, or who corruptly or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, shall influence, obstruct, or impede, or endeavor to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice therein, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both."

8 U. S. C., 47 (a)-Revised Statutes 1980:

"Second. If two or more persons in any State or Territory conspire to deter, by force, intimidation, or threat, any party or witness in any court of the United States from attending such court, or from testifying to any matter pending therein, freely, fully, and truthfully, or to injure such party or witness in his person or property on account of his having so attended or testified, or to influence the verdict, presentment, or indictment of any grand or petit juror in any such court, or to injure such juror in his person or property on account of any verdict, presentment, or indictment lawfully assented to by him, or of his being or having been such juror; or if two or more persons conspire for the purpose of impeding, hindering, obstructing, or defeating, in any manner, the due course of justice in any State or Territory, with intent to deny to any citizen the equal protection of the laws, or to injure him or his property for lawfully enforcing, or attempting to enforce, the right of any person, or class of persons, to the equal protection of the laws."

The bill, as reported to the Senate, reads as follows:

[H. R. 96, Seventy-second Congress, first session]

A BILL To punish the sending through the mails of certain threatening communications Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whoever, with intent to extort or without justification to demand from any person money or other thing of value, shall deposit or cause to be deposited in any post office, or station thereof, or street or other letter box of the United States, or authorized depository for mail matter, to be sent or delivered by the post-office establishment of the United States, any written or printed letter or other communication with or without a name or designating mark subscribed thereto, addressed to any other person and containing any threat (1) to injure the person, property, or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person, or (2) to kidnap any person, or (3) to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime punishable by law, or (4) to expose any infirmities or failings of any person or to charge any person with infirmities or failings shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than five years: Provided, That the accused may be indicted and tried either in the district in which the unlawful matter is deposited as aforesaid or in the district to which it is carried by mail for delivery, according to the directions thereon or in the district to which it is directed to be delivered by mail by the person to whom it is addressed.

O

SENATE

72D CONGRESS 1st Session

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REPORT No. 499

TO PROVIDE FOR INVESTIGATION INTO COST OF MAINTAINING PRESENT SYSTEM OF FUTURE TRADING IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

APRIL 4, 1932.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. CAPPER, from the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. J. Res. 108]

The Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. J. Res. 108) to authorize and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate the cost of maintaining the present system of future trading in agricultural products and to ascertain what classes of citizens bear such cost, having fully considered the same report favorably thereon with a recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments:

On page 2, line 7, after the word "futures" insert the words "and cotton futures."

On page 2, line 9, after the word "futures" insert the words "and cotton futures.

On page 3, line 3, after the word "wheat" insert the words "and cotton."

The joint resolution directs the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate the sytem of future trading and short selling in farm commodities, the purpose being to develop the benefits, if any, of such a system of marketing. The information requested includes the amount of profits made and losses sustained by various classes of traders in wheat and cotton futures since July 1, 1929, including short selling, and the amount of commissions and other charges paid by traders. Profits and losses of large traders are to be separated from those of small traders, and in particular the amounts of such profits and losses resulting from short selling of wheat and cotton during the drastic decline since July 1, 1929, are to be shown. The report is requested by the next regular session of Congress.

A letter from the Secretary of Agriculture commenting on the purpose of the joint resolution No. 108 follows:

Hon. CHARLES L. MCNARY,

Chairman Committee on Agriculture and Forestry,

United States Senate.

MARCH 7, 1932.

DEAR SENATOR: S. J. Res. 108 has been referred to this department for consideration and report.

Section 1 of the resolution directs the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate and determine the cost of maintaining the present system of dealing in wheat futures in the United States. It calls for certain facts regarding the profits and losses of various classes of traders in wheat futures since July 1, 1929, and for information showing the profits and losses of large traders separately from those of small traders as well as the amounts of such profits and losses that resulted from the short selling of wheat during the drastic decline in prices since July 1. The cost of the proposed investigation is to be charged against funds appropriated for the enforcement of the grain futures act.

The information called for would present an interesting study, I am sure, and would afford some basis for comparing the economic value of the futures markets for hedging purposes with their cost to society as a whole. This apparently is the purpose of the inquiry, and presumably it is thought that an investigation limited to wheat will provide a basis for estimating in a general way the situation as it affects other commodities dealt in on the futures markets.

The information relative to trading in wheat futures could be obtained, I believe, through the agency of the Grain Futures Administration without additional funds, although it would require some readjustment in present plans. It might be necessary also to restrict the investigation in some particulars and to be content with less than a complete survey of all of the trading during the period specified.

If it be desired by Congress that such an investigation be undertaken, I shall be pleased to make the facilities of the department available within the limits of available funds.

Sincerely,

ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary.

The committee also had under consideration S. J. Res. 63, introduced by Senator Sheppard, of Texas, which would authorize a similar investigation into trading in cotton futures. The committee is favorable to the purpose of Senator Sheppard's resolution, but it was felt that by amending S. J. Res. 108 so as to include cotton futures within its provisons the same result would be achieved. It was therefore the feeling of the committee that S. J. Res. 108 should be reported with the amendments herein recommended, thus accomplishing all that is contemplated by Senator Sheppard's resolution.

The statement of the representative of the Department of Agriculture convinced the committee that no appropriation will be necessary for making the investigation authorized by this resolution.

72D CONGRESS 1st Session

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SENATE

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REPORT No. 500

QUALIFICATIONS FOR RELIEF UNDER ACT PROVIDING HOME CARE FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

APRIL 4, 1932.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. CAPPER, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 4038]

The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4038) to amend section 1 of an act entitled "An act to provide home care for dependent children in the District of Columbia," approved June 22, 1926, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon, and recommends that the bill do pass.

Under the act which this bill is designed to amend, the District government, through its Board of Public Welfare, may provide funds to mothers who have been bona fide residents of the District for one year prior to their application for such assistance, in order to maintain the applicants' minor children-those under 16 years of age-in their own homes. Such aid is given, after investigation, only in cases of destitution.

The purpose of the bill is to make two years the required period of residence in the District before aid may be provided. The Board of Public Welfare believes that persons who are eligible to assistance under the home care act, except in the matter of residence, are coming into the District, establishing residence in one year and immediately thereafter making application. This bill may, it is thought, deter such practice.

The legislation is similar to that in many States and cities, although the committee is informed that the 1-year period of residence is less than the average throughout the country. The committee knows of no objection to the bill, which was introduced at the request of the District Commissioners. The commissioners' favorable report on the proposed legislation is appended hereto as part of this report.

SR-72-1-VOL 1-60