Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-03-09
COLD STORAGE
Bill AND HIGH
COST OF LIVING
Matter Was Discussed at
Hearing on Legislative
Bills Yesterday
FARMERS OBJECT TO
PROVISIONS
Especial Correspondence. J


Trenton, March 9.-The cost of
living and it's causes were debated
before the Judiciary Committee OF
the Senate yesterday afternoon when
public hearing was given to the
James and Johnson bills providing
for the regulation of the cold storage
business in New Jersey One of the
principal speakers against the meas
ure was former Representative G. e.
Littlefield, of Maine. who said that
the Legislature of New Jersey had
absolutely no Justification to pass
such legislation as was embodied In
the James and Johnson bills.
Cause Not Found.
Mr.. Lttlefield said that the coun-
try was enthralled with the high cost
of living but, though many investiga-
tions. and Inquiries had been made,
there was nothing to show what had
been the cause of the condition. He
told OF the congressional inyestiga-
tion In the cold storage proposition
and referred to the testimony given
by the government expert, DR.. Har-
vey w. Wiley, who said that a year
was not too long to keep food stuffs
In cold storage. Mr.. James, how
ever, claimed that he received a let
ter from DR.. Wiley in which the ex-
pert approved the six months limi.
tation contained in the James meas.
ure ~
The hearing, as 1t went on, de-
veioped much interest and there
personalities INDUCED in several
times. After the speakers against
the measure had stated their case
Mr. James explained his measure
and he had evidently become irritat-
ed under the presentation of those
against him as he made reference to
the high priced lawyers employed to
attempt to defeat his measure. w.
Holt Apgar, of Trenton, corpora
ton lawyer, marshalled the forces of
those opposed to the bills and while
Mr. James was talking Mr.. Apgar
smiled. This enraged the Hudson
assemblyman and he shouted. 'Tell
us why you are here Mr.. Apgar,
who pays your, Senator Prince,
however, interposed and Mr.. James
said he could not stand for the
smirks and smiles OF Mr.. Apgar.
Questioned Store House Men.
r. W. Mayo Atkinson, OF Elisabeth
who Is regular attendant fat the
Legislative sessions year after year,
had number OF questions to ask OF
the representatives of the store
house people as to how much the
farmers and producers received of
the increased cost Of commodities
caused by the holding of them In the
storage plants. A farmer on the
floor OF the chamber Immediately
told Mr.. Atkinson that he was a
raiser OF capens and during parts of
the year he would have no market
for his capons were it not for the
cold storage plants and that was
how he shared in the advantages of
the system Mr.. Atkinson said that
he was in a peculiar position, not
being a legislator and having many
constituents. They expected him to
do something at Trenton and he
meant to do 1t. One Of the cold
storage men suggested that perhaps
he needed guardian but Mr.. Atkin-
son said that had been suggested be-
fore but they had never been able to
give him one.
Farmers Object to Bill.
The farmers of the state were the
principal objectors to the bills, partic-
ularly the James bill. They pointed
out that 1t limited the time to six
months as the period that poultry, eggs
fruit and the like can remain in stor-
age. 1t was the claim of the opposi-
tion that this would not carry them
from season to season and as an Illus
tration 1t was shown that the best
month for killing turkeys, when they
were best for eating, were November
D,ao,,l,a, h,,+ &c 4hsr hill haaarua q
law it would be impossible to put the
turkeys in cold storage at that time
to keep them for the months of July
and August. One farmer from Burling-
ton County, Henry Hansel, produced a
large quantity of luscious apples which
he said had been In Geld storage since
last October and he defed anyone to
say that they were not perfect. Mr..
Hansel asserted that 1t was ridiculous
to say that cold storage apples We're
the best of food Oh April 80 and unfit
to eat on May /, Ii the six months
happened to expire at that time.
T. A. Adams, of Montelair, proini-
nent cold storage warehouseman In
both Jersey City and New York, de-
clared that he was emphatically in fa-
vor of state supervision and inspec-
tion because 1t would acquaint the pub
lie with the merits of cold storage and
give the industry the standing it de-
serves. He favored the johnson bill
and said that he wanted complete pub
lieity in regard to al operations. He
claimed that the cold storage, industry
had proved to be q potent factor in
the Hback to the farm movement
For sale-overland Roadster. Fully