GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 161 



Cliairman Thomas. Senator Holland asked some questions that I 

 think should be clarified. I will give my viewpoint: 



This bill, when drawn and when passed — if drawn and passed — 

 will extend the price-support program to a greater extent than it now 

 extends, by making loans on nonperishable products, by making 

 direct payments on perishables, and by direct pm-chase. That is an 

 extension, as I understand it, from hearing it read, over and above 

 what we have at the present time in the way of a price-support 

 program. 



I will not ask a question directly, but only indirectly. 



Is it not a fact, Mr. Secretary, that the present price-support 

 program is pretty expensive to the Treasury, has been and is now? 



Secretary Beannax. Yes, sir. 



Chairman Thomas. Can you give us some idea of the probable 

 expense of this program when and if enacted? Will it be more 

 expensive or less expensive, in your opinion, to the Treasury of the 

 United States? 



Secretary Bkaxxax. Mr. Chairman, I think it would be less expen- 

 sive. I realize that some people will point to the payments and say 

 they are going to create expense, but in terms of the high production 

 which we are now facing and some of the comparative analyses we 

 would have to make in a projected manner, I believe it is perfectly 

 proper to say this should cost less, considerably less, to the American 

 people. 



I will give you an example. It certainly would cost less to the 

 American people in the potato program than the present potato 

 program has cost. 



Chairman Thomas. Inasmuch as we will have a chance to inter- 

 rogate the Secretary later, at your convenience and our convenience, 

 we hope we will get togehter. We will have a chance at that time to 

 submit all the questions we can think of. 



Senator Thye. Mr. Chairman, there is a great question of how and 

 in what manner can he say that the potato situation would be less 

 expensive in the future than in the past, when we had this production 

 of the lowest acreage planted in 70 years. That is one that you must 

 come prepared to give us some specific answer on, Mr. Secretary, 

 when we meet again. 



Secretary Brannan. I believe I am prepared. At least, I will try. 



Chairman Thomas. Mr. Chairman of the House committee, on 

 behalf of my committee I want to thank you sincerely, as well as the 

 members of your committee, for inviting us to attend this hearing. 

 We appreciate it immensely. It has just saved use the exact amount 

 of time that we have devoted to this. Otherwise, we would have had 

 to give the same time that you have given to it. 



It has been a real accommodation to us. For that favor and 

 courtesy, we thank you sincerely. 



Chairman Cooley. We thank you very much. Senator, and we 

 thank your colleagues, for coming to meet with us this morning. 



(At this point the members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture 

 and Forestry withdrew from the joint session.) 



Chairman Cooley. Are there any questions the members of the 

 committee would like to propound to the Secretary of this time? 



Mr. Hall. I would like to ask one question. 



Chairman Cooley. Mr. Hall. 



