812 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



then market price. It remained at the same price all during the war. 

 At the same time the cost of production doubled and in some cases 

 trebled and that produced innumerable problems for the wool 

 industry. 



Now because of the fact that the price of wool was frozen at the 

 prewar market price, it was necessary to enact the wool support 

 program of 1943, which was reported out by this committee and for 

 which we are very appreciative. Matters went along until in 1947, as^ 

 you will remember, the Secretary of Agriculture refused to continue 

 that program unless the Congress authorized him to do so. We are 

 grateful to this committee and to the Congress for the fact that two 

 pieces of legislation were passed the first of which met a veto at the 

 hands of the President. Ordinarily we might have been forced to 

 accept the veto without further legislative action and such would have 

 been the case, if it were not for the splendid consideration given by 

 this committee. 



Now, of course, we felt that the first bill was eminently proper, in 

 view of the fact that the tariff on wool was reduced by 25 percent in 

 1947. I may call your attention, Mr. Chairman, to the fact that the 

 people of this country got no benefit whatsoever because of the reduc- 

 tion of the tariff, by reason of the fact that the price of wool was 

 raised by foreign producers to take up the reduction in the tariff, and 

 accordingly, the consumers in this country did not benefit in any way. 



Now under the Aiken-Hope bill, wool has been adequately taken 

 care of and, of course, we have nothing whatsoever to complain of. We 

 do feel that wool ought to be accorded the same treatment as basic 

 commodities in this country. 



I do not know too much about this present proposal, Mr. Chairman, 

 and I don't propose to make any statement on it. I understand wool 

 has not received the consideration to which it is entitled in that 

 program. I might say this, Mr. Chairman, that the only criticism I 

 have, if you might call it that, is that the wool growers of the West 

 have been confronted with such instability and insecurity during the 

 past 7 years : First, the fact that the price of wool was frozen and the 

 cost of production went up and up; and then that the tariff was 

 reduced on wool. Then after we were able to get favorable legislation 

 in 1948 through this committee and the Congress, we are now faced 

 with a new proposal before this committee which we are advised at 

 least that wool has not received favorable treatment. 



I am sure, however, Mr. Chairman, that this committee will accord 

 to that great industry the same fair and equal treatment that they 

 have accorded it in years gone by; and I am hopeful that wool be- 

 accorded the same treatment as the basic commodities. 



So, in conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I want to say again that the sheep 

 industry is deeply appreciative of the splendid consideration that this 

 committee has given it down through the years. 



Mr. Pace. Thank you very much for your statement, Mr. Barrett. 



The Chair is advised that there are probably some witnesses present 

 who will not be able to be here tomorrow, and we will try to hear as 

 many as we can today. Also that there are some witnesses present 

 who do not care to present their statements personally, but will file- 

 their statements, and they may do so now. 



