GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 959 



Mr. Case. Since the National Potato Council, the national organi- 

 zation is here, I would like to refer the question to the treasurer, 

 whether the council would like to stay. 



Mr. Pace. Give your full name for the record. 



STATEMENT OF S. A. WATHEN, TREASURER, NATIONAL POTATO 



COUNCIL 



Mr. Wathen. My name is S. A. Wathen, treasm-er of the National 

 Potato Council. 



I think.that you have gotten away, quite away from the subject we 

 have to deal with. 



In the discussion the National Potato Council, as I understand, in 

 the sessions which it has had in the last 2 days, and in all of the States' 

 special committes, I understand they favor the present law, as it now 

 reads, without any change, with a compensatory payment under the 

 present law, and we have a formula that we can consider, and one that 

 we consider is workable, and we would be glad to present it to the 

 Department of Agriculture for its consideration. 



I would be glad to go into session with this group here and touch on 

 the major questions which have come up, in the next 2 hours. 



Mr. Pace. May I make one comment right there? 



Mr. Wathen. Yes. 



Mr. Pace. I do not think that is the answer to the objection. 



In the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1948 the support price of 

 potatoes is fixed by an amendment, and the question of control under 

 the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1948, control is left entirely in 

 the hands of the Secretary of Agriculture, and if you have studied that 

 act you will observe that there are some 8 or 10 conditions that he can 

 consider, first, whether or not you are to get a support price, and if 

 you do get a support, then what you must do to comply with formulas 

 of goals, acreage allotment and marketmg agreements 



Mr. CooLEY. Or maybe soil conservation practices. 



Mr. Pace. The position of the potato growers would have great 

 influence on the committee on the fundamental questions facing the 

 potato growers of the country. Now the question is do they want to 

 tell us the amount of the support, and how it will be handled, and what 

 they have to do or not to do, or do they want it determined entirely 

 by the Secretary of Agriculture, or do they want to consult with the 

 committee and they themselves, with our assistance, write their own 

 ticket? 



I do agree with my distinguished Chan-man that the committee 

 would more than welcome, if possible, a common agreement among the 

 different growers in dift'erent sections of the country. 



If the potato growers, or a majority of them, had rather leave the 

 entire program in the hands of the Secretary, where it has been foi- 

 the last several years, I am inclined to think the committee would go 

 along with that; but if the growers want to write their own ticket then 

 the growers should get together and tell us what they want, and as 

 long as they are here they can try to get together. I think that is the 

 only issue, as I understand it. 



Mr. CooLEY. Mr. Pace, I would like to suggest to the President of 

 the Potato Council that the statement made a moment ago is not in 



91215— 49— ser. u, pt. 5 14 



