Secretary of Agriculture confers with Congressional cotton bloc. Washington, D.C., Feb. 1. Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace today conferred with members of the Congressional Cotton Bloc regarding plans for reducing the cotton surplus held under government loans. Senators were unable to reach a final agreement upon a plan which would permit farmers to retire cotton from loan in lieu of planting compatible acreage. Wallace is picture with Rep. Marvin Jones, left, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Senator Ellison 'Cotton Ed' Smith, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee