186 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



You ai'e still going to have as a basis the 10 years of prosperity in 

 which to pay the man his so-called income during the lean years. 



How do you explain that? 



Secretary Brannan. Mr. Hoeven, I think that is a good question 

 and it goes to the very basic philosophy of what we in this committee 

 and certainly we in the Department of Agriculture are concerned 

 with. 



Mr. Hoeven. Is that not the fundamental proposition here? If 

 and when farm prices go down, what is your program going to cost 

 the Federal Government? 



Secretary Brannan. Mr. Hoeven, I would like to make two amend- 

 ments to your statement. It is not what this program is going to 

 cost the people as against no program. 



It is what this program would cost the people as against the existing 

 programs if we went into a depression. 



You are going to ask me to estimate what this program will cost. 



Mr. Hoeven. Mr. Secretary, you frankly admit that you cannot 

 give us figures on the cost of the present program. 



Secretary Brannan. I have said to you that we will give you as 

 good estimates on the present program as we can on the recommended 

 program. 



More than that, we will give you some good experience on the 

 present program which shows us that in the next few years the present 

 program is going to cost considerable amounts of money. 



I could substantiate to you with as much assurance and as much 

 firmness that this program which we now have will cost as large 

 figures as anybody can prove to you that the proposed program will 

 cost anywhere near those figures. 



It is so dependent on so many unknowns at this time that you 

 just cannot get those figures. 



Let us take pork, for example. We are going into a price-support 

 program on pork very soon. It will be of substantial proportions. 



Frankly, we will be buying a considerable amount of pork from the 

 packer in pork products. Under the present program the price sup- 

 port will still remain at a high figure and as the taxpayer's dollars will 

 be used, as some people are complaining about this program, to 

 maintain that high price. 



Under this program we would allow the pork to go into the market 

 and seek its level and go back to the farmer, who is the producer, 

 and give him the amount of money which is necessary to maintain 

 the level below which we do not think the price of pork, related to 

 the total national income, should be allowed to fall. 



Certainl}^ that is going to cost some money but we are going to be 

 spending some money before the end of this year and the consumer is 

 going to be paying a high price at the same time under the present 

 program. 



Mr. Hoeven. Mr. Chairman, I do not care to ask any more ques- 

 tions at this time but would like to have the privilege of interrogating 

 the Secretary at a later date. 



Mr. Pace. Mr. Chairman. 



The Chairman. Mr. Pace. 



Mr. Pace. Mr. Secretary, inasmuch as the Aiken bill has been 

 referred to, as well as the" comments of Senator Aiken, I think the 

 situation needs to be clarified right now. Is it not true, Mr. Secretary, 



