411 



one from Fish and Wildlife Service, three from State departments 

 of agriculture, one farm organization, four industrial trade associa- 

 tions, and two others. There were also five communications entered on 

 the record. As in the previous year, no substantial controversy devel- 

 oped over the measure ; witnesses offered detailed technical suggestions, 

 and mostly expressed support for the bill. 



Representative Andresen opened the hearing by presenting the text 

 of a revised bill, H.R. 1237, ''a bill to regulate the marketing of 

 economic poisons and devices, and for other purposes," and then 

 explained — ■ 



Extensive hearings were held on similar legislation in the 79th Congress and 

 in view of the fact that the industry and distributors, and others ; are in pretty 

 much accord on this legislation, this hearing will be comparatively brief, in order 

 to hear the views of those witnesses who have indicated that they wanted to be 

 heard, and to receive suggestions for the record on this bill.'^ 



He was followed by Harry E. Reed, director of the livestock branch, 

 Production and Marketing Administration (accompanied by Dr. 

 W. G. Reed, chief, and Dr. E. L. Griffin, assistant chief, insecticide 

 division, livestock branch). Declaring his department in support of 

 the proposed legislation, Mr. Reed indicated that the program under 

 the 1919 act was budgeted at an annual $294,000 and that the new 

 measure would cost an additional $285,000 annually. It would also 

 entail a one-time outlay of $80,000 in new laboratory equipment. His 

 testimony included a plan of enforcement of H.R. 1237, wMch de- 

 scribed tlie added responsibilities for the Department of Agriculture, 

 presented a budget breakdown, and indicated briefly the assignments 

 of enforcement responsibilities. Noted the statement: 



In the enforcement activities, no basic research is contemplated. It will, how- 

 ever, be necessary to make sufficient investigations to determine the effectiveness 

 of herbicides, rodenticides, and devices intended for the control of economic 

 pests ; to determine the toxicity of substances used in economic poisons and what 

 dangers may be inherent in their use ; to determine the necessity of and standard 

 for coloring economic poisons ; and to determine adequate directions for use of 

 economic poisons." 



John D. Conner, general counsel of the National Association of 

 Insecticide & Disinfectant Manufacturers, told the subcommittee 

 that his association — 



* * * Feels that H.R. 1237, as presently drafted, is a well-balanced piece of 

 legislation and will meet all the needs of the enforcement officials, as well as 

 assure maximum protection to the consumer. Frankly, the association does not 

 agree with several parts of this bill, but the bill as a whole has been approved, 

 and no objection to these specific points is being raised so long as the bill remains 

 in its present form." 



He was followed by L. S. Hitchner, executive secretary of the Agri- 

 cultural Insecticide & Fungicide Association, who had testified the 

 previous year on H.R. 4851. He said : 



The preparation of this bill and the model State bill has been carefully con- 

 sidered for more than 2 years by Federal enforcement agencies, other Federal 

 bureaus interested in pest control, many State enforcement officials, the Council 

 of State Governments, the National Association of Commissioners, Secretaries 

 and Directors of Agriculture, the American Association of Economic Entomolo- 



^^ U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 

 Rodenticide Act. Hearings before subcommittee of the * * • on H.R. 1237. A bill to 

 regulate the marketing of economic poisons and devices, and for other purposes. Apr. 11, 

 1947. 80th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington, U.S. Government Printing OflSce, 1947), p. 8. 



w Ibid., pp. 11-12. 



" Ibid., p. 16. 



