782 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



the taxpayer — not the Government — pays or will pay the cost of such 

 a program. 



They are not unmindful of the fact that the farmers and livestock 

 producers are taxpayers and that upon then falls a sizable share of 

 the tax burden which results from governmental attempts to main- 

 tain price levels above prices which the public is willing to pay in a 

 free market. 



Recently I read an item which included a quotation from Thomas 

 Jefferson, made more than 130 years ago, in which he warned his 

 fellow citizens of the dangers which they faced at that time. I quote: 



I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt 

 as the greatest of dangers to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must 

 not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our choice between 

 economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude. 



If we' run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our 

 necessities and in our comforts, in our labors and in our amusements. If we can 

 prevent the Government from wasting the labors of the people under the pre- 

 tense of caring for them, they will be happy. 



The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our money 

 for unexplained projects, forbids it in the disposition of public money. We are 

 endeavoring to reduce the Government to the practice of rigid economy to avoid 

 burdening the people and arming the magistrate with a patronage of money which 

 might be used to corrupt the principles of our Government. 



This quotation from Thomas Jefferson is particularly apropos 

 at this time. With taxes alreadyat their highest level on record and 

 with our Federal debt around the $250,000,000,000 mark, we have 

 apparently reached the point referred to by jVIr. Jefferson when he 

 said that if we run into such debts we must be taxed in our meat and 

 drink, in our necessities and in our comforts, in our labors, and in our 

 amusements. 



And it is further apparent we have now arrived at the point v/here 

 we are raising money under the pretense that it is necessary in order 

 to take care of the people. Frankly, we have reached the point 

 where too many of our citizens are willing and anxious to follow the 

 path of least resistance and depend upon Government guaranties, 

 subsidies, and doles. 



We cannot speak for all of the livestock producers of the country 

 but I quote for the record a resolution adopted by our membership 

 in its annual meeting held March 23, 1949, in which they established 

 their policy on the subject of price supports and Government regula- 

 tion. I quote: 



While opposed to the policy of price ceilings, supports and so-called floors, the 

 National Livestock Producers Association recognizes Jthat the National Govern- 

 ment is committed to a principle of price supports and many growers of agricul- 

 tural products have started their production programs for 1949-50 based on these 

 commitments. 



We therefore recommend that the price support of 90 percent of parity which 

 has been announced effective until Januar}^ 1, 1950, be carried out but that a policy 

 of flexible supports as provided in the Hope- Aiken law be allowed to become effec- 

 tive in 1950 and that any changes in this law be directed toward minimizing the 

 use of Government controls and guaranties. 



This resolution, while opposing the principle of price supports recog- 

 nizes that commitments already made must be carried out. It further 

 indicates that our members favor the flexible provisions of the Hope- 

 Aiken law over the 90 percent of parity provisions now in effect and 

 which is scheduled to expire at January 1, 1950. But, most impor- 



