The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-02-21
MEANS $500, 900 A YEAR FOR
N. c. POTATO GROWERS
Bill introduced by w o. Saunders Will Protect Hon
. est Grower. Who Grades His Potatoes
z And PeraIize The Crook


representa- tive w. @. Sal1nd-
|ders has introd duced a bill, in the
House Of Represent tives, which
he believes viii, among other
things. put a half million dollars
annually into tile pockets OF
Eeastern North Carolina potato
growers. E
1t is notorious fact that North Caro-
lima potatoes sell for 25 cents to so cents
Ia. barrel less than potatoes grown or
the Eastern Shore Of Virginia and else
where because buyers and commission
men generally have no confidence in
North Carolina grades. The Saunders
bill will establish confidence in the
grade of North Carolina potatoes and
Fpenalize every crooked grower who tries
to palm off inferior potatoes for stan
dard grades. Under the Saunders bill
the grower who grades his potatoes
honestly will be protected and enabled
to get the highest market price for his
product. The grower who will moi
grade his potatoes honestly will. be
compelled to mark his potatoes mot
Graded" The law is simple, fair and
meets the demands of elemental. hon
esty and fair dealing.
North Carolina's potato crop last
year is estimated to have totaIed 81
23S,699 barrels, as follows:-
Early Irish. ........ 1,056.e0o barrels
Earl Sweets :. ..i.. 50, 500 barrels
Late Irish -. 100, 900 barrels
Z Late Sweets -. -. !, 900, 900 barrels
One can easily estimate the annual
loss to North Carolina growers by rea-
son of the fact that buyers and commits
sion men make it a rule to lop rs to SO
cents off every barrel of North Caro-
lima potatoes, because buyers and COM
men have no assurance that
North Carolina potatoes are properly
graded. The Saunders bill is designed
to give the North Carolina potatoa bet
ter standing on the country markets:
For the information of potato growers
in northeastern North Carolina TEE
offers the full text of
on this measure should telegraph Re
preventative Saunders at once. as he
will lose no time in securing the pas
sage of the bill
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTAB-
LISHMENT OF STANDARD PACK
AGES, GRADES, STATE BRANDS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
The General Assembly of North Caro-
line do Enact:
Of ot
is to give authority to investigate mar
keting conditions and to establish and
maintain standard grades and pack
ages and state brands for farm and
crops.
Sec. 2. The Board of Agriculture is
charged with the execution of the pro-
visions of this act, and has authority
to employ such agents and assistants
as may be necessary, fix their cOmpen-
and define their duties, ard may
require bonds in such amounts as they
may deem advisable, conditio ed upon
the faithful performance of duties by
any employe or agent.
Sec g. It shall be the duty of the
Board of Agriculture to Investigate the
subject of marketing farm products, to
diffuse useful information relating
thereto, and to furnish advice and as
sistance to the public in order to pro-
mote efficient and economical methods
Of marketing farm products and au-
thority is hereby given to gather and
diffuse timely information concerning
the supply, demand, prevailing prices
and commercial movement of farm pro-
ducts, including quantities in common
and cold storage, and may interchange
such information with the United Stat
IS Department of Agriculture.
Sec. 4. After investigation, and from
lime to time, as may be practical and
advisablbe, the Board shall have au-
hority to establish and promulgate
standards of opened and closed recep-.l
acles for, and standards for the grade
Ind other Classification of farm pro
lucts by which their quantity, quality
md value may be determined and pre-
scribe and promulgate rules and regu-
ations governing the marks, brands
md labels which may be required for
eceptacles for farm products for the
purpose of showing the name and ad-
IresSes of the producer or packer; the
1uantity, nature and quality of the pro- |
net. or any of them, and for the pur-
,ose of preventing deception in refer /
nee thereto, and for the purpose of es- /
ablishing a state brand for any farm |
,roduct produced in North Carolina; |
that any standard for any
arm product or receptacle there1or
n any requirement for marking recep-
acles for farm products, now or here
,fter established under authority OF
he CONGRESS of the United States, shall
orthwith. as far as applicable, be es-
ablished or prescribed, and promulgat-
d as the official standard or REQUIRE
nent in this state; PROVIDED F0R
7HER that no standard stabl1shed or
eouirement for marking prescribed un,
er this act shall become effective untii
he expiration of thirty days a1ter II
hall have been promulgated.
Sec. 5. Whenever any standard Tor