GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 763 



Mr. Vaughn. We understand that. 



The Chairman. We were not fiddhng. It just seems to me you do 

 not have a single word of commendation in this statement for the acts 

 of Congress. 



I want to say to you that the wool growers of this Nation are 

 ably and well represented in Congress, as evidenced by the fact 

 that they secured for the wool industry of America more consideration^ 

 than was accorded to any other commodity. 



Mr. Vaughn. I am glad that you brought that matter up because 

 you are stating a fact which I think all of the wool industry, and 

 certainly the officers, understand- — that at the time the present sup- 

 port program was instituted it was the effort of the Congress to coop- 

 erate with the sheepmen. I think that I stated that; at least, I 

 implied it here. The point is that since that time many Congressmen 

 have made statements to the effect that wool is not an important 

 industry. 



The Chairman. But the fact remains that we have continued to 

 support wool, and we are supporting it now. 



You say that we lowered the tariff. That was done, as 3^ou know, 

 in the interest of the wool trade, but we have more than compensated 

 for the lowering of the tariff by providing an abnormally high support 

 program for wool. 



. j\Ir. Vaughn. I should like to call the Coligressman's attention to 

 the fact that the tariff was lowered 25 percent after the present pro- 

 gram was put into effect, and nothing has actually been done to 

 actually compensate for it. 



The Chairman. What support price do you want for wool? Is not 

 110 percent of parity enough? 



■Mr. Vaughn. We did not come here to argue the details of the 

 support price. 



The Chairman. But you came here with an entirely critical state- 

 ment. There was nothing in it commendatory, from one end of it 

 to the other. There was nothing commendatory of the acts of Con- 

 gress. 



Mr. Vaughn. I think that you have misinterpreted my statement. 



The Chairman. I have tried my best to see something in here to 

 the contrary, but I have not found it. 



Mr. Vaughn. I have said at various times the Government has 

 supported it. Then again they have changed their minds. 



The Chairman. We have changed our minds? You are talking 

 now to the Government. This is the Government up here right now, 

 so far as this is concerned. Wlien have we changed our minds and 

 adversely affected the wool growers? 



Mr. Vaughn. In 1943. 



The Chairman. "VMiat did we do? 



Mr. Vaughn. You put into operation the present wool-purchasing 

 program. Do you agree? 



The Chairman. Has that been disadvantageous to the growers? 



Mr. Vaughn. Could I ask you the question, Do you agree that in 

 1948 you did put that program into operation? 



The Chairman. And I am asking you, Is that a disadvantageous 

 program? 



Mr. Vaughn. At the time it was the best that could be accom- 

 plished, and we accept.ed it in good faith. 



