Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-02-01
A MEETING OF FARMERS.

In response to the call Of the COM
mittee appointed by the Progressive
Farmers Club, of Coopertown, there
was quite number of the leading far
mers and truckers of the county on
hand at the City Hall, Burlington, on
Saturday, to consider the questions re
lative to getting honest dealings with
the transportation companies and com
mission merchants as regards the re-
turn Of empties; also the reduction Of
freight and commission.
The meeting was called to order by
Nelson P. Greedy. o. d. Crane was
elected secretary. After reading the
call by the chairman, on motion Of
A. Shaw, the question in regard to the
return Of empties was first considered.
He stated that there were about 49, 900
baskets sold by four dealers that he
had made inquiries of, making cost
of about $1,000 to the farmers. And
that was a fair average of what the
farmers had to pay each year His
plan was to demand the price of all
baskets not returned by the commission
merchants.
Joseph Bishop thought unanimous
stand on the part Of the farmers would
secure the desired end, although he
thought the transportation companies
were responsible to a great extent. If
a lower freight on truck and a small
return freight could be secured, then
the transportation companies would be
responsible for the empties received by
them and not delivered
By that means it would hold all
concerned to answer. Prof B. d.
Travers could not see it in that light
on account Of the thieving from the
wharves after being landed.
Richard Hansell thought the COM
mission merchants should be held re-
sponsible, and as an instance Of their
returning empties said that he wanted
some half barrels but could not get
them and went to commission man
and he said he had empty baskets that
he would let him have at 4 cents each,
but he refused them after seeing that
they belonged to his neighbors, and
also were from all parts Of the country.
A. Haines thought the proper way
would be not to mark baskets but
charge on all baskets sent and pay for
all returned.
Frank Jones proposed to grow less
truck and the farmer do his own mar
keting and by that means make more
money and loses less empties. Prof.
Travers read a part Of the report Of
Mr.. Hotchkiss, which showed that the
average farmer is doing business at
loss. He thought that an organization
would be the hel p for the farmers. AS
it is now the farmer neither made his
price to sell or buy.
Charles Gross offered the following:
Be 1t Resolued, That the farmers of
this meeting will not employ any
commission merchant that will not
be responsible for the empties they
lose. Carried. Mr.. Travers moved
that committee ofthree be appointed
to confer with the transportation com
panies in regard to getting receipts for
all empties returned as well as for
truck sent. Carried.
The chair appointed Charles Cross,
Benjamin Shedaker and A. Shaw as
the committee.
John D. Marter was sorry that there
were not more commission men present,
as he would like them to explain why
they charged freight and carriage on
parcels that were sold from the wharf,
and never taken to market at all. He
was satisfied that this was a great item
of expense to the farmer; that it was
nothing more than robbery.
The next meeting will be called by
the chairman when the committee is
ready to report.