The Washington times., 1901-08-09
AMERICAN FRUIT ABROAD.
The Government to Go i'm Partner
ship With Exporters.
Unique Experiments Proposed by
the Agricultural Departments
shippers TO BE Reimbursed for
Any Loss That May he Sustained.

|
| A series of experiments, unique even in
the history of the Agricultural Depart
| ment has been approved by Secretary
| Wilson a the instance of what is known
| as the Pomolcgical Bureau of that de-
partment There were some misgtvings as
| to the legal aspect of the proposition. but
! these have been disposed of by a favor
able decision of the Comptroller of the
| Treasury.
1t is proposed by the Agricultural De-
| partment to go into partnership with
number of merchants and exporters. the
terms of the partnership being that the
| United States shall stand all losses and
the exporters reap all the profits. Yet it
is claimed by the pomolosical experts of
| the department that the Government will
| reap profit enough in the form of scien-
tific knowledge to compensate for any
, loss that may be sustained through the
otherwise unequal partnership.
| The communication of the Secretary of
Agriculture to Comptroller Tracewell in
regard to the matter is as follows:
| In the appropria ton for Pathological
! fnyestiga tions. 1902. digest of Appropria-
! tions, 1902. page 3i3) this language is used:
| To investigate, in cooperation with
| the other divisions of the department
| and experiment stations of the several
States the market conditions affecting the
fruit trade OF the United States and for
| eign countries, and the methods of har-
vesting. packing, storing and shipping
| fruit and vegetables. and for experimental
| shipments OF fruits to foreign countries,
for the purpose of increasing the expor-
| tation of American fruits. and for all nee
| essary expenses connected with the prac-
| teal work of the same.
| Certain questions have arisen In con-
noction with the attempt to carry out the
provisions of this appropriation act which
seem to require authoritative decision.
These questions have taken form as fol-
| lows:
''Q May this department, under the au-
! thority of this act. enter into co-opera-
| tive arrangements with dealers and ex-
| porters whereby the department shall
| guarantee definite minimum net return
per package on fruit picked, packed, ship
| ped and sold under directions from the
| pomologist of this department through the
| ordinary channels of trade? Cnder such
\ an agreement the exporter wocii receive
| the net proceeds Of sales; that is, all pro-
| ceeds after deducting freight and other
| charges connected with the shipments and
| sales If this net return should be less
| than the guaranteed amount the diff
| ference between the net proceeds ac-
| tually realized and the guaranteed
| return would be paid the exporter out of
the moneys appropriated for 'Pomological
| Investigations. Respecting this project
the pomologist of this department says:
'' This plan seems highly desirable, IL
| Il can be adopted, under II the shipper
| has the incentive of probable profit to
stimulate in him due care and attention
in the handling OF the fruit in the best
| possible way. The department simply as
sumes the risk of losses due to unfore-
seen accidents in transit, or to a tenn
| pOrary glut and consequent low price in
| the foreign market Oh arrival OF the con-
signment- In short. the department would.
| in effect. agree to make good to the ex-
perimental shipper a stipulated price
| ba sed on that obtainable at home, in case
| the shipment for any reason should fail
| to realize that price.
"(2) II you shall decide that the law does
| not permit the department to enter into
| arrangements by which minimum prices
| may be guaranteed to exporters. then the
| following question Is presented: May the
! department contract to defray the whole
| or any part of the transportation of fruits
| belonging to private owners (the packing.
| shipment, etc. to be directed by the Off
cials OF the departmenD. the entire pro
| ceeds of the sales going to the person who
| owns and ships the fruit?
| 80 Ir neither Of the plans above pre-
| sented shall meet with your approval.
| tnen the question ftaS tne de-
| partment, under the language of the ap-
| preparation act above quoted. authority to
| purchase fruit outright for experimental
| export shipment and sale. through COM
| mercial channels? If so, may the pro-
| ceeds OF such sales be used for further
| purchases in continuing the experimental
| shipments as in the first instance, or must
| the proceeds OF all sales be covered into
| the Treasury miscellaneous receipts?'
20 Cnoer the authority to investigate
the market conditions affecting
| the fruit trade In the United States and
| foreign countries, and the methods of har-
| vesting packing, storing, and shipping
| fruits and vegetables, Is It permissible for
| the department TO conduct experiments
| with fruits in storage, and may fruits for
| such experiments be purchased2 At the
| termination OF such experiments must the
| proceeds of the sale of the fruits found
| marketable be covered into the Treasury
| as miscellaneous receipts
IF the department is limited to the pur-
| chase, shipment. and sale of sTch fruits
| and vegetables. and II the proceeds Of
| such sales cannot be used in continuing
| the shipments. the amount appropriated
| is altogether too small to allow Of expert
| mental operations on a scale sufficient to
! influence the expectation of American
| fruits to any appreciable extent. The
| language Of the appropriation is by no
| means specific. and inasmuch as the sug
| gested plans for cooperation in the exper-
| mental shipments are quite different from
| any work heretofore engaged in by this
| department. the matter is submitted to
you lot your ADVICE as TO the leBanty OF
| the several proposed methods"
| Comptroller Tracewell rendered the fol-
| lowing decision:
Without going into the question at
| length. II may be said that you are au-
| thoriZed TO incur any reasonable and
| necessary expense. within the limits of
| the appropriation. and not otherwise for
| bidden by law, to carry out its objects. f.
| therefore, you shall determine that a
| guarantee to private owners or shippers
| as in your first suggestion. or the pay
ment by the Department of Agriculture
| Of transportation charges on private ship
ments made under the direction of the
| department, will best accomplish the oh
! ject of the appropriation, l know no law
| which fOrbids the same.
| 1t may not be improper. however to
suggest that just so far as the arrange
| ment you may make may differ from or
dinary purchase and delivery should be
your care to protect the United States
from imposition or loss.
| In reply to your other enquiries ! have
to say that the proceeds of all sal les of
| fruit bought from the appropriation, eth
| or for shipment or storage. must. under
| the provisions of sections 36l6 and 3611 of
| the Revised Statutes. be covered into the
Treasury az miscellaneous receipts on ac-
count OF proce eds OF Government prop
| erty.
| Reimbursement for a Sick Omcer
| The Comptroller Of the Treasury, Robert