GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 801 



the price decline to the low level in the first place in its effort to expand 

 consumption and reduce production. Or it has been the scarcity of 

 supplies that caused the price to advance to the level 125 percent of 

 the natural price, in an effort to expand supplies or reduce consumption 

 or both. 



7. Make the rules definite: Stop granting discretionary power to 

 make rules and regulations that can be changed overnight. The 

 appeal of the current farm programs, so far as the loans are concerned, 

 has been that the farmer knew exactly what could be done. He has 

 known that he could borrow a certain amount on a certain grade 

 under certain conditions up to a certain time. The rules were specific. 

 If he wanted to take advantage of them, he could. If not, he did not 

 need to. And that is the way any and all such programs should be. 



Mr. Pace. Thank you very much, Mr. Pickell, 



Are there any questions? 



Mr. CooLEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the witness one 

 question. 



I assume, Mr. Pickell, you have conferred with other people who 

 are similarly situated, and I would like to ask you whether or not 

 anyone in your group is in favor of the Brannan proposal. 



Mr. Pickell. Yes. I pointed in the front part of my statement 

 that, of 97 answers, we got back 



Mr. CooLEY. I remember those figures. I mean — do you know 

 whether or not any of these witnesses here have testimony that is 

 substantially different from yours. 



Mr. Pickell. Pardon me? 



Air. Cooley. Are there any witnesses here who want to offer 

 testimony that is substantially different from the testimony which 

 has already been offered by the beef cattle people. 



Mr. Pickell. I really do not know. I have not consulted them. 



Mr. Cooley. You do not know? 



Mr. Pickell. No. 



Mr. Cooley. I am just trying to ascertain if subsequent witnesses 

 might not be oft'ering just cumulative testimony. 



Mr. Pace. This is all of the witnesses. 



Mr. Cooley. Then I would like to ask you one other question. 



As cattlemen, you feel that no program at aU is needed in behalf 

 of the cattlemen of the country? 



Mr. Pickell. Our people never have asked for any subsidy or any- 

 thing of the sort. That is right. And we still feel the same way. 



Mr. Cooley. And they do not want any price support, price con- 

 trol, or any other Federal control in the interest of the livestock 

 industry? 



Mr. Pickell. Not on livestock; that is right. 



Mr. Cooley. You made the statement here that if Congress ap- 

 proved compensatory payments or production payments on hogs, as 

 recently suggested by the Secretary, that program would ultimately 

 banlvrupt the United States. 



Mr. Pickell. I think it would. 



Mr. Cooley. That is your view about it? 



Mr. Pickell. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Cooley. You do loiow the Secretary is now charged with the 

 responsibility of supporting hog prices in the event they reach ap- 

 proximately $16.50 a hmidredweight, do you not? 



Mr. Pickell. Yes. 



