Page images
PDF
EPUB

630-202. Same; extension of time limit.-[This section is not a part of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and is restated from the separate acts indicated in the statutory reference]-That the authority of the manager, cotton pool, to purchase and pay for participation trust certificates, Form C-5-I, shall extend to and include the 30th day of September 1939, but after the expiration of said limit the purchase may be consummated of any such certificates tendered to the manager, cotton pool, on or before September 30, 1939, but where for any reason the purchase price shall not have been paid by the manager, cotton pool: Provided further, That the date May 1, 1938, appearing in title IV of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, shall not be applicable. (June 16, 1938, Title I, 52 Stat. 747; Apr. 5, 1939, 53 Stat. 572; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1404a. See par. 630-9, this volume.)

630-203. Same; death, incompetence, or disappearance of payee.-[This section is not a part of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and is restated from the separate acts indicated in the statutory reference]That in case any person who is entitled to payment on a participation trust certificate, Form C-5-I, dies, becomes incompetent, or disappears before receiving such payment or before application for such payment is executed, the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide by regulations, without regard to any other provisions of law, for such payment to such person as he may determine to be fairly and reasonably entitled thereto. (June 16, 1938, Title I, 52 Stat. 747; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1404b. See par. 630-9, this volume.)

630-204. Continuance of 1933 cotton producers pool; funds for payment of expenses.-The Secretary is authorized to continue in existence the 1933 cotton producers pool so long as may be required to effectuate the purposes of this title. All expense incident to the accomplishment of purposes of this title may be paid from funds hereby authorized to be appropriated, for which purpose the fund hereby authorized to be appropriated shall be deemed as supplemental to such funds as are now to the credit of the Secretary, reserved for the purpose of defraying operating expenses of the pool. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title IV, sec. 405, 52 Stat. 71; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1405.)

630-205. Prohibition of purchase of certificates after expiration of time limit. After expiration of the time limit herein established, the certificates then remaining outstanding and not theretofore tendered to the manager, cotton pool, for purchase, shall not be purchased and no obligation on account thereof shall exist. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title IV, sec. 406, 52 Stat. 71; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1406.)

630-206. Purchase from assignee of certificates; price.-Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize the manager, cotton pool, to pay the assignee or any holder of such cotton pool participation trust certificates, form C-5-I, transferred subsequent to May 1, 1937, as shown by the records of the Department of Agriculture, more than the purchase price paid by the assignee or holder of such certificate or certificates with interest at the rate of 4 per centum per annum from the date of purchase, provided the amount paid such assignee shall not exceed $1 per bale. Before making payment to any assignee, whose certificates were transferred subsequent to May 1, 1937, such assignee shall file with the manager, cotton pool, an affidavit showing the amount paid by him for such certificate and the date of such payment,

and the manager, cotton pool, is authorized to make payment to such assignee based upon the facts stated in said affidavit as aforesaid. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title IV, sec. 407, 52 Stat. 71, as amended Apr. 7, 1938, sec. 15, 52 Stat. 204; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1407.)

CROP INSURANCE

630-207. Short title; application of other laws. This title may be cited as the "Federal Crop Insurance Act". Except as otherwise expressly provided the provisions in titles I to IV, inclusive, shall not apply with respect to this title, and the term "Act" wherever it appears in such titles shall not be construed to include this title. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title V. sec. 501, 52 Stat. 72; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1501.) 630-208. Declaration of purpose.-It is the purpose of this title to promote the national welfare by alleviating the economic distress caused by wheat-crop failures due to drought and other causes, by maintaining the purchasing power of farmers, and by providing for stable supplies of wheat for domestic consumption and the orderly flow thereof in interstate commerce. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title V, sec. 502, 52 Stat. 72; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1502.)

630-209. Federal Crop Insurance Corporation; creation; offices.-To carry out the purposes of this title, there is hereby created as an agency of and within the Department of Agriculture a body corporate with the name "Federal Crop Insurance Corporation" (herein called the Corporation). The principal office of the Corporation shall be located in the District of Columbia, but there may be established agencies or branch offices elsewhere in the United States under rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Directors. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title V, sec. 503, 52 Stat. 72; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1503.)

630-210. Capital stock of corporation; subscription by United States; appropriation.(a) The Corporation shall have a capital stock of $100,000,000 subscribed by the United States of America, payment for which shall, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, be subject to call in whole or in part by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

Any impairment of the capital stock described in this subsection shall be restored only out of operating profits of the Corporation.

(b) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated not more than $100,000,000 for the purpose of subscribing to said stock. No part of such sum shall be available prior to July 1, 1938. The appropriation for such purpose for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1939, shall not exceed $20,000.000 and shall be made only out of the unexpended balances for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1938, of the sums appropriated pursuant to section 15 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, as amended.

(c) Receipts for payments by the United States of America for or on account of such stock shall be issued by the Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury and shall be evidence of the stock ownership by the United States of America. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title V, sec. 504, 52 Stat. 72; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1504.)

630-211. Board of directors, compensation; manager of corporation.(a) The management of the Corporation shall be vested in a Board of Directors (hereinafter called the "Board") subject to the general

supervision of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Board shall consist of three persons employed in the Department of Agriculture who shall be appointed by and hold office at the pleasure of the Secretary of Agriculture.

(b) Vacancies in the Board so long as there shall be two members in office shall not impair the powers of the Board to execute the functions of the Corporation, and two of the members in office shall constitute quorum for the transaction of the business of the Board.

(c) The Directors of the Corporation appointed as hereinbefore provided shall receive no additional compensation for their services as such directors but may be allowed actual necessary traveling and subsistence expenses when engaged in business of the Corporation outside of the District of Columbia.

(d) The Board shall select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, a manager, who shall be the executive officer of the Corporation with such power and authority as may be conferred upon him by the Board. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title V, sec. 505, 52 Stat. 72; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1505.)

630-212. General powers of corporation.-The Corporation(a) shall have succession in its corporate name;

(b) may adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noticed;

(c) may make contracts and purchase or lease and hold such real and personal property as it deems necessary or convenient in the transaction of its business, and may dispose of such property held by it upon such terms as it deems appropriate;

(d) subject to the provisions of section 508 (c), may sue and be sued in its corporate name in any court of competent jurisdiction, State or Federal: Provided, That no attachment, injunction, garnishment, or other similar process, mesne or final, shall be issued against the Corporation or its property;

(e) may adopt, amend, and repeal by-laws, rules, and regulations governing the manner in which its busines may be conducted and the powers granted to it by law may be exercised and enjoyed;

(f) shall be entitled to the free use of the United States mails in the same manner as the other executive agencies of the Government; (g) with the consent of any board, commission, independent establishment, or executive department of the Government, including any field service thereof, may avail itself of the use of information, services, facilities, officials, and employees thereof in carrying out the provisions of this title;

(h) may conduct researches, surveys, and investigations relating to crop insurance for wheat and other agricultural commodities;

(i) shall determine the character and necessity for its expenditures under this title and the manner in which they shall be incurred, allowed, and paid, without regard to the provisions of any other laws governing the expenditure of public funds and such determinations shall be final and conclusive upon all other officers of the Government; and

(j) shall have such powers as may be necessary or appropriate for the exercise of the powers herein specifically conferred upon the Corporation and all such incidental powers as are customary in corporations generally. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title V, sec. 506, 52 Stat. 73; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1506.)

630-213. Personnel of corporation.

Appointment; civil service exemption; compensation; bonds. (a) The Secretary shall appoint such officers and employees as may be necessary for the transaction of the business of the Corporation, which appointments may be made without regard to the civil-service laws and regulations, fix their compensation in accordance with the provisions of the Classification Act of 1923, as amended, define their authority and duties, delegate to them such of the powers vested in the Corporation as he may determine, require bond of such of them as he may designate, and fix the penalties and pay the premiums of such bonds. The appointment of officials and the selection of employees by the Secretary shall be made only on the basis of merit and efficiency.

Application of workmen's compensation law. (b) Insofar as applicable, the benefits of the Act entitled "An Act to provide compensation for employees of the United States suffering injuries while in the performance of their duties, and for other purposes", approved September 7, 1916, as amended, shall extend to persons given employment under the provisions of this title, including the employees of the committees and associations referred to in subsection (c) of this section and the members of such committees.

Utilization of associations of producers; payment of expenses. (c) The Board may establish or utilize committees or associations of producers in the administration of this title and make payments to such committees or associations to cover the estimated administrative expenses to be incurred by them in cooperating in carrying out this title and may provide that all or part of such estimated expenses may be included in the insurance premiums provided for in this title.

Allotment of funds to federal and state agencies. (d) The Secretary of Agriculture may allot to bureaus and offices of the Department of Agriculture or transfer to such other agencies of the State and Federal Governments as he may request to assist in carrying out this title any funds made available pursuant to the provisions of section 516 of this Act.

Utilization of producer cooperative associations. (e) In carrying out the provisions of this title the Board may, in its discretion, utilize producer-owned and producer-controlled cooperative associations. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title V, sec. 507, 52 Stat. 73; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1507 (a) to (e).)

630-214. Wheat crop insurance. To carry out the purposes of this title the Corporation is authorized and empowered

Insurance against loss authorized; terms and conditions. (a) Commencing with the wheat crop planted for harvest in 1939 to insure, upon such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of this title as it may determine, producers of wheat against loss in yields of wheat due to unavoidable causes, including drought, flood, hail, wind, winterkill, lightning, tornado, insect infestation, plant disease, and such other unavoidable causes as may be determined by the Board: Provided, however, That for the first three years of operation under this title contracts of insurance shall not be made for periods longer than one year: Provided further, That the Corporation may, upon such terms and conditions as it shall determine, accept payments from producers in any year to be applied toward premiums on their insurance contracts for the current and next suc

ceeding year. Such insurance shall not cover losses due to the neglect or malfeasance of the producer or to the failure of the producer to reseed in areas and under circumstances where it is customary to reseed. Such insurance shall cover not less than 50 or more than 75 per centum, to be determined by the Board, of the recorded or appraised average yield of wheat on the insured farm for a representative base period subject to such adjustments as the Board may prescribe to the end that the average yields fixed for farms in the same area, which are subject to the same conditions, may be fair and just. The Board may condition the issuance of such insurance in any county or area upon a minimum amount of participation in a program of crop insurance formulated pursuant to this title.

Premiums. (b) To fix adequate premiums for such insurance, payable either in wheat or cash equivalent as of the due date thereof, on the basis of the recorded or appraised average crop loss of wheat on the insured farm for a representative base period subject to such adjustments as the Board may prescribe to the end that the premiums fixed for farms in the same area, which are subject to the same conditions, may be fair and just. Such premiums shall be collected at such time or times, in such manner, and upon such security as the Board may determine.

Payments of claims; actions on claims. (c) To adjust and pay claims for losses either in wheat or in cash equivalent under rules prescribed by the Board. In the event that any claim for indemnity under the provisions of this title is denied by the Corporation an action on such claim may be brought against the Corporation in the district court of the United States in and for the district in which the insured farm is located, and exclusive jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon such courts to determine such controversies without regard to the amount in controversy: Provided, That no suit on such claim shall be allowed under this section unless the same shall have been brought within one year after the date when notice of denial of the claim is mailed to the claimant.

Purchase and sale of wheat. (d) From time to time, in such manner and through such agencies as the Board may determine, to purchase, handle, store, insure, provide storage facilities for, and sell wheat, and pay any expenses incidental thereto, it being the intent of this provision, however, that, insofar as practicable, the Corporation shall purchase wheat only at the rate and to a total amount equal to the payment of premiums in cash by farmers or to replace promptly wheat sold to prevent deterioration; and shall sell wheat only to the extent necessary to cover payments of indemnities and to prevent deterioration: Provided, however, That nothing in this section shall prevent prompt offset purchases and sales of wheat for convenience. in handling. The restriction on the purchase and sale of wheat provided in this section shall be made a part of any crop insurance agreement made under this title. Notwithstanding any provision of this title, there shall be no limitation upon the legal or equitable remedies available to the insured to enforce against the Corporation the foregoing restriction with respect to purchases and sales of wheat. (Feb. 16, 1938, Title V, sec. 508, 52 Stat. 74, as amended June 22, 1938, 52 Stat. 835; 7 U. S. C., sec. 1508 (a) to (d).)

« PreviousContinue »