Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-05
FRUIT MARKETING.
THE POINTS DISCUSSED As TO
METHODS.
Letter Between the Califor-
mia Fruit-Growers' Association
and the Fruit Union.

The following letter appears in the Rtrdt
Press of the present week, and is self-ex-
planatory
Editors Press: A. T. Hatch, President of
the California Fruit Union, in a commune
cation to the Press of the Goth ult., refused
to answer certain questions asked through
the columns of your valuable paper on the
22d ut. by your humble servant, and in
stead tries TO be faeetious and satirical in
the extreme, and uses some very long
words the space occupied by them being
sufficient to contain answers to my ques-
tions.
Had these questions not been courteous,
proper and important, to that degree that
their answers material affect both the legal
and equitable rights of every stockholder
i'll the Union, of which Mr.. Hatch has the
honor of being President, his refusal to an
swer would not be so significant. Neither
is there mitigation in the fact that the
questions relate to an interest that, if prop
erly fostered and protected, would soon be
paramount TO any other in our State, and
something in which everybody is inter-
ested, whether they are fruit-growers or
not. Mr.. Hatch should have answered the
questions, and, in refusing, the public will
be justified in believing he did so for GER
tain obvious reasons. though best known
to himself.
In what humiliating and pitiable posi-
ton gentleman must be placed when
very proper, yet direct, questions are asked
him, and he dare not answer them in the
same proper and direct spirit. How very
dangerous and treacherous must be the
foundation upon which he stands, when he
dare not move a limb or bend a joint, for
fear that he may lose his equilibrium and
be precipitated INTO destruction.
President Hatch terms the California
Fruit Union "Qur Producers Union and
declares that he will not give information,
or explain to any one, except to a MEM
ber-a producer "-of "Our Producers
Union" who ships goods through it" Our
Producers Union"
! Now let US investigate little-iust a lit
| tie, only-and see whether or not ." Our
| Producers Union is what it is repre-
sented to be, to wit Producers Union"
President Hatch assumes that have been
told how Mr.. Porter's 10 per cent. conf
mission is to be made up. That is true,
| but it was a long, long time ago-the Both
day of March, 1SS6-and / did not know
| but some change had been made by the
Trustees of Our Producers Union " in
| the manner of making up this commission.
! 1t was then stated that the Trustees of
| the California Fruit Union intended to add
| the two 5 per cent. commissions levied by
their resolution of February 16, 1856, and
pay the same TO Porter Bros. & Co., of Chi
| cago, for selling. Therefore it follows
l. That the five per cent. commission
| levied for shipping through the Union
ultimately lands in the hands of pro-
ducer Porter Bros. Co. of Chicago, buy
ers and shippers of California fruit East.
3 The five per cent. commission for sell
! ing is paid TO the producer Porter
| Bros Co, of Chicago, buyers and shippers
J of California fruit (Mr Porter is entitled
! to this commission, but none fthe others.)
! 3. All benefits derived through commits
sions levied and collected by the "0ur
! Producers Union are to be given to the
producer Porter Bros. Co, of Chicago,
BUYERS and shippers of California fruit
A. Because of the fact that Nos. l and
are disposed of in the manner they
are it in the judgment of the Trustees Of
t"Our Producers Union becomes neces-
sary to levy an assessment of % per cent.
upon the par value of the capital stock of
"Our Producers Union 10 pay the ex-
pense and cost mot the least of which are
the salaries of officers for concentrating as
much of the fruit as possible grown in
California, and placing said fruits in the
hands OF the producer Porter Bros.
Co., of Chicago. buyers and shippers of
| tdlllOrIld ITull-3Hu WITHOUT charge OF
cost of any kind 10 said producer" etc,
while other buyers and shippers have to
pay the expenses and salaries of their
agents themselves.
Believing that President Hatch will
pardon me if make a suggestion, twill
| venture one in the interest of economy, to
wit That inasmuch as the resolution of
February 18th last declares that the COM
mission of five per cent. for shipping
through the Union was levied upon all
| shipments made through said Union, there
fore it follows that freight rates cut no
J figure whatever; and also, that if the said
five per cent commission was properly col
| lected and appropriated, it would obviate
all necessity of calling in the 25 per cent.
assessment, recently levied upon the capital
stock of the Union for the commission of
five per cent. for shipping, if collected upon
the sale value of the contents of the cars
claimed by the manager to already have
been shipped through the Union, there
would be derived a revenue to the corpora
ton of from $500 to S400-which would be
sufficient to pay the salary, for one month
ct least, of one officer, with small amount
left for travelling expenses.
In conclusion, | will maze the following
proposition to President Hatch, of the CAL
ifornia Fruit Union, in order that he may
| SuOlnlt tIit csiiHC " tIt lDOeIt vi IlhotCCo
of said Union for their careful and serious
consideration.
My proposition is that the California
Fruit-growers' Association is willing to
| lend its aid and give its unqualified support
i'll any and all ways possible, to secure a
| reduction in freight rates on fruit East. and
leave property under the control and man
agement of its owners, and consequently
| not giving to any man or combination of
men a power which could be used to ulti-
mately crush all opposition to their desires.
| This Will test the question as to whether
or not the officers of the Fruit Union are
willing to permit a reduction in freight
rates on fruit East, and at the same time
grant equal rights and protection to all.
Let US have reduced rates if possible.
r. ID. STEPHENS,
! Pres't. Cal. Fruit-growers Association.