48-222-65--42 Source Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture 70 Source Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, United 90 100 WALNUTS (LIGHT PIECES) ANNUAL APPROXIMATE AVERAGE EASTERN DELIVERED PRICES, MONTHS OF HEAVIEST MARKETING Source Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, United 130 140 Senator BASS. Thank you very much. I might say that I have been authorized by the assistant of the author of the bill, Senator Hart, to inform you that Senator Hart does not intend to fill the hole in the Life Saver. As a matter of fact he has saved the life of the Life Savers by putting a 2-ounce exemption in the bill. Mr. SIFERS. Very good. Senator BASS. Senator Pearson? I Senator PEARSON. Tell me about the vending machine problem. have a stack of letters in my office from the vending machine people who are very much concerned about another problem, and that is the change in the coinage that may be necessary because of certain metal scarcities. They think they may have to modify all their vending machines because of a change in the content of silver in nickels, dimes, and so forth. What is the problem of vending machines, which you mentioned? Mr. SIFERS. Senator Pearson, the problem there is that you get into the problem of pennies. The only→ Senator PEARSON. You mean through an increased price of the product? Mr. SIFERS. Yes, because of standardization of the package. Senator PEARSON. Most of the change compartments in vending machines are uniform, are they not? Mr. SIFERS. Yes. Senator PEARSON. But the problem of the vending machine is that you are going to have to have a nickel slot and a penny slot, is that right Mr. SIFERS. It could well be. Senator PEARSON (continuing). If the price of the candy bar had to be increased? Mr. SIFERS. Consumers resist this. There is a coinage shortage as you are familiar with, as far as the Government is concerned at the present time. Senator PEARSON. Did you hear the testimony of the representative of the Farmers Union? Mr. SIFERS. Yes. Senator PEARSON. This may be an unfair question because I don't associate your industry with the field of agriculture particularly as it relates to our section of the country. Is the spread between the producer and the consumers' price in your industry anything like the chart that he brought here? Mr. SIFERS. No, it is not, Senator. As you well know, we raise in the State of Kansas, in your State, a lot of sugar beets in western Kansas. Senator PEARSON. That is right. You made quite a point of the existing law being adequate and you were frank enough to say that this was repetitious and everybody had said it. Is it your view that the present law is adequate if it is properly enforced? Mr. SIFERS. Yes. Senator PEARSON. What do you think of the enforcement of it today? Mr. SIFERS. Senator Pearson, you are asking me a very difficult question Senator PEARSON. I intended to. Mr. SIFERS (continuing). On which Mr. Gamble and a lot of people have been on this seat about. We feel that the Government officials have the power Senator PEARSON. To do what? Mr. SIFERS (continuing). At the present time to do the job. Senator PEARSON. Do you think there is adequate and complete enforcement of it today? Mr. SIFERS. They are actively working at it all the time. Senator PEARSON. New legislation, new rules, and regulations, can come about, I suppose, in two ways: First, if there are inadequate laws on the books; second, that the adequate laws on the books aren't being enforced. If we have a problem-and I take it that you would concede that every once in a while in an isolated case there is a problem. Tell me, how are complaints originated before the Commission? Does the consumer come in, or does a member of the industry come in? How are these things started? Mr. SIFERS. The Food and Drug and Federal Trade get reports from the consumers, very definitely. Senator PEARSON. Can they initiate provisions on their own? Senator PEARSON. Yes. There has been litigation from time to time that hadn't been successful. Is that right? Mr. SIFERS. That is right. Senator PEARSON. Didn't you have something in your testimony about the Commission picking bad cases to prosecute, or something like that? Mr. SIFERS. Yes, sir. Senator PEARSON. Do you want to comment on that? I want to thank you for your testimony. Your points are well made. Senator BASS. Thank you very much. Mr. SIFERS. Senator, we think we have some excellent 5 cent bars of candy. They are a wonderful, wholesome food. Senator BASS. The Chair at this time will take one of the prerogatives of the Chair. I have to be away from the committee at 12:30. We have a gentleman here from Tennessee. At this time I am going to call Mr. Roy Clarkson, assistant to the president of Bush Bros., Dandridge, Tenn. A little bit out of order. Mr. Clarkson, we will be glad to hear you at this time. STATEMENT OF ROY CLARKSON, ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT, BUSH BROS., DANDRIDGE, TENN. Mr. CLARKSON. Thank you. Senator Bass. I see that your testimony is a little bit on the extended side. If you will cooperate with the committee and condense it, and bring it within the 10-minute range, it will be very much appreciated. Welcome to the committee. Mr. CLARKSON. Thank you. My name is Roy Clarkson. I am assistant to the president of Bush Bros., of Dandridge, Tenn. We are vegetable canners. This is my second appearance in front of this Hart bill. I want the 1963 testimony made a part of my total testimony. |