GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 573 



Mr. Goss. What we recommended in our testimony was that all 

 nominations should be submitted to the committee. We do not recom- 

 mend that they be subject to your approval. That might be wise. 



We do not claim to be perfect in these suggestions. We have, for 

 example, the suggestion made by Mr. Hoeven, and it may have more 

 merit in it than our suggestion. Our minds are completely open as 

 to that. 



Mr. CooLET. That is what I wanted to bring out, Mr. Goss ; that 

 you have just suggested the idea of a board, and you have given us 

 some suggestions with reference to other related subjects. 



Mr. Goss. Yes. 



Mr. CooLEY. And you are open for any suggestions that might come 

 from the committee in that regard ? 



Mr. Goss. That is correct. 



Mr. CooLEY. And you suggested a board of 24, and it might well 

 be less ? 



JVIr. Goss. That is right. 



Mr. CooLEY. And any changes you are suggesting you would expect 

 to be in the interest and welfare of agriculture? 



Mr. Goss. That is right, and certainly that is the end that we are 

 all working for. And I would like to make one further comment, if 

 I may, Mr. Cooley. I have been on a lot of boards. Government boards 

 of one kind or another, and usually they are not worth much. As a 

 rule they are not used except as a sort of front, or to get good will. 

 But I think the board that was more effective than any other I have 

 known of for the last 25 years, was the War Mobilization and Recon- 

 version Board. That too was an advisory board, but there were some 

 powers given to that board. In the first place they were selected and 

 had to be approved by the Congress, and they had to be there. If they 

 could not be there they could not send a substitute. If a member were 

 not there, no one represented him. 



While our job was to advise with the Director and with the Presi- 

 dent, and we could only advise them, we could not direct them what to 

 do. Xevertheless, we could call for records at any time. We could ask 

 for General Eisenhower to come before us and he would come. We 

 could ask for General Bradley or Admiral Nimitz and they would 

 come. We had the power to get information and to lay it before the 

 public if we wanted to, and it worked. And, President Roosevelt 

 w^ould have told you if he were here, and President Truman will tell 

 you that it did work, and that it was very helpful. 



So I think we could give similar powers to an advisory board. If 

 you do not. it will not amount to much. 



Mr. CooLEY. Mr. Goss, we have an agricultural board in my State 

 of Xorth Carolina which works with the Commissioner of Agricul- 

 ture, and I think there are many other States that have a similar 

 set-up ; is that correct ? 



Mr. Goss. That is right. 



Mr. CooLEY. That is all. 



Mr. Granger. Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Hope. Mr. Chairman, I had not yielded the floor, but I will yield 

 to Mr. Granger. 



Mr. Pace. Very well, Mr. Granger. 



