GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 1247 



Once in a while political differences occm*, but very seldom. I do 

 not think this committee can be charged with being derelict in its 

 duty and not looking after American agriculture. We do run into 

 policies created in other departments of the Government that decidedly 

 interfere with the type of protection American agriculture should 

 have. 



Of course, I am in accord with your views that the farmer should 

 have cost of production and a profit for what he produces. 



I am disturbed about this cost question, because I think we must 

 be realistic. Farmers in this country have paid a very substantial 

 share of the income tax, not a major part of it, but they have been 

 good taxpayers. They will not be as good in 1949 as they were in 

 1948 because of the 30 percent or greater drop in the income of 

 the farmers. We have got to recognize the fact that we have to 

 raise the money in some way. We can raise the taxes some; but, 

 when you stop to deal with all of these perishable commodities that 

 make up about 90 to 95 percent of the diet of the American people, 

 it will take a lot of money. 



You are going to pay compensatory payments and then produce 

 in abundance and let the prices sink down to the supply-and-demand 

 market level. There might be a wide range between the cost of 

 production that the farmer should have and what he actually gets 

 for his products. When we go into this program, if we do, we have 

 to figure out where the money is coming from, because if we do not 

 find the money there will be no program for American agriculture. 



Mr. Parodneck. Mr. Congressman, I am not qualified to discuss 

 the fiscal problems of the United States Treasury. I am very much 

 concerned about it, and I have a layman's opinion on the subject. 

 I do have opinions. If we are going to discuss the question of how 

 we are going to raise the money and how much we are going to spend, 

 I think I have the answer. 



I read the papers the other day and found that the earning reports 

 of certain corporations were at an all-time high. Standard Oil of 

 New Jersey was making a million dollars a day, and they were ashamed 

 to publish it because they had to split up their stock in order to hide 

 the huge profits they have been making. At the same time while 

 these corporations make these reports the farmer has his income 

 reduced 30 percent. Obviously, there is a disparity in tax bm-den. 

 I think, if this is the proper forum, that that is the place to look for it. 



Mr. Murray. Who do you think took that war tax off from the 

 corporations? 



Mr. Parodneck. I am sorry, I do not know. 



Mr. Murray. A lot of people think the Eightieth Congress did it, 

 but they did not do it. 



Mr. Parodneck. All I know is that there is a disparity in tax 

 bm-den, and certainly the farmer is bearing more than his share and 

 he is not getting his share of the benefits, and that this program is 

 overdue. Gentlemen, as far as milk is concerned, the market is con- 

 tinuing to decline. The farmer cannot take further cuts in income. 

 He has to have restored what has been taken from him. This trial 

 run that I have heard referred to here is overdue. I wish you would 

 not consider this thing as something for next year. This is something 

 which was needed last April, as far as milk is concerned. 



