GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 579 



the producers of the abundant crops which we need in a full-employ- 

 ment economy. 



Mr. White. Thank you, Mr. Poage. 



Mr. PoAGE. Mr. Goss, I cannot indulge in your optimistic view as to 

 what we can expect of a board, in view of the experience of all nations 

 at all times. Boards have always either had power or they have not. 

 If they have power, they supplant the regularly established agencies of 

 Government. If they do not have power, then they are nothing in the 

 world but a fifth wheel that serves no purpose except to meet and draw 

 a salary and try to get their pictures in the newspapers. Of course, 

 that is what most of the boards amount to. 



Unhappily, I feel that this suggested board would probably amount 

 to the same thing. I know you do not think that is all it would do. 

 You think it would do more. If it does do more, if it actually performs 

 any useful function, it must be taking the place of some regularly con- 

 stituted agency of Government. You then have an extraconstitutional 

 agency that is carrying out the powers of the people. You are dele- 

 gating those powers to something other than the legislative or judicial 

 branch of the Government. If that board had any powers at all, it 

 would be largely legislative. 



I think the Constitution of the United States places legislative 

 powers in the Congress of the United States. The people select repre- 

 sentatives to handle those problems, and of that group there has been 

 selected this very group, the Agriculture Committee, who are sup- 

 posed to be somewhat familiar with the problems of agriculture, who, 

 as I see it, are supposed to do exactly the things you are suggesting this 

 Board do. What can this Board do that the Congress is not supposed 

 to do now ? 



Mr. Goss. The Board would not be a legislative board, Mr. Poage. 

 It would be in the administrative branch of the Government. It could 

 exercise only the powers that the legislative branch of the Govern- 

 ment gives to it. It would be a limitation on the administrative branch 

 of Government. Congress would, in effect, say, "We have given you 

 certain powers. We want to have you exercise those powers in con- 

 sultation with and in agreement with representatives who are close to 

 the problem in the field." 



Mr. PoAGE. Why would it not be much better, Mr. Goss, to simply 

 require that the Department of Agriculture come up here and consult 

 with tlie committees of the House and Senate directly rather than 

 through this intermediary i 



Mr. Goss. I do not think you have time to do that with all the thou- 

 sand and one things you have to do. 



Mr. PoAGE. I think every time someone wants a support price they 

 come here. 



Mr. Goss. They do now. 



Mr. PoAGE. They always will. If that Board turns them down 

 where will they go? They will not stop. They are in Washington 

 and they will come right up here. If a man does not get a job on the 

 rural route that he wants, he does not stop at the Post Office Depart- 

 ment : he comes liere. If a man is not appointed to a job in the Vet- 

 erans' Administration or somebody does not get a pension he thinks he 

 ought to have or some man is assigned to a post in the Army that lie 



91215 — 49 — ser. r, pt. 3 15 



