Arizona republican., 1919-04-08

our intention at the time we called this | session of the Arizona hay congress, and am of the same opinion still, that it should be your hay congress or the congress of all persons interested in any phase of the industry. And we should cooperate with each other in the fullest degree.
 1 am of the opinion that this Arizona hay congress should be made perma- nent tribunal and that it be the med ium of settling all matters pertaining to the hay industries between the local producer, the dealer and our market. And l recommend that it should meet annually or as many times annually as may be necessary, and that it should be officered by representatives from all phases of the industry, and shall take an occasion at this time to recommend that before your deliberations proceed very far that this congress be defi- nite1y organized for these purposes, and that we call upon the hay frater nity of California, Texas, Colorado and | New Mexico to join with us: California has already signified her willingness. 1 The Relation of the Producer to the Dealer
 | I desire to call your attention to the 1 fact that the relation and interest be- tween the producers and local dealers of the Salt River Valley are parallel, and your hearty cooperation should exist, and unless the fullest cooper ation. the results which each of you are striving and deserve, will never be ob- tained.
 | Conditions of the Markets and Alfalfa ] Fields in the Latter Part of 1918 Gentlemen of the congress, the latter part of October of last year, when I l became the chairman of the hay divis- ion of Arizona, by appointmnt from the government through the food admins tration, there seemed to be no estab- lished custom to govern, and every transaction was typical of the parties | engaged in it. Balers and shippers fol- lowed the bent of their own inclination in the detail of baling, weighing, buy ing and shipping, distributing markets, also points of consumption, were under local influences and often dominated by whimsical notions. And at the same point of shipment, or in the same re- ceiving market there was irregularity of method, of inconsistency in business, each individual conducting his busi- ness in a manner which seemed to promise him the largest gain, regard less of the responsibility of his patrons and forgetful of his self-accountability The further existing circumstances in our market, relative to this industry, 1 found upon thorough investigation by reason of various practices, that our market for Arizona hay was practically wrecked, and one of the principal req sons was the persistency in marking inferior grades. These conditions, may I state, should not exist, and it is my opinion that all of the responsibility does not rest upon the local dealers, but upon the producers as well. I found upon investigation, that by reason of the former practice that there was nc incentive on the part of John Doe to take the proper care of his hay, either ir cultivation or baling; in fact, the gen eral handling of his hay properly, be- cause John Jones, his next door neigh bor, received as much per ton as one taking the best possible care of his hay field. And by this practice, for foul or five years, the prevailing opinion might have been justly established tha
 there was no great need in giving thi, industry the proper care and attention and that the market price was stabil-  the reputation of Arizona hay, which i
 so richly deserves, would properly talk care of itself without any effort on tn,
 part of the producer. And you, ant each of you gentlemen, will readil. , agree with me at this time was a sat
 mistake. The result of which is tn . loss of practically all of the largest de , pend3ble distributors of Arizona ha,
 mems market. These conditions, a , mentioned. are the principal reason , for the calling of the Arizona hay con [, gress, that we may legislate anon I ourselves and reach final and wei f defined agreement for the betterment 0 f these conditions and place Arizona ha. n on the market, where it properly be i, longs. There is one other serious det o riment in marketing our hay toda
 which is almost prohibitive freigh e rates, which exist now between her = and our markets east of Fl Paso.
 And may I not at this time call spe
 cial attention of that committee 0
 which A. A. Betts of the state corpora
 tion commission is chairman, to tn
 fact that it is very necessary in better
 ing our conditions that they give tn | question of freight rates serious con
 sideration in their deliberations today
 and, if possible, have this congress arr
 the corporation commission with tn
 best possible support and data that tf
 corporation commission may obtain |
 rates. And I would ask this same con
 mittee, at this particular time, to SCI
 iously consider the matter of car mir
 imums, which is a liability under u
 present rulings, to the extent of thou.
 ands of dollars annually to the alfalt
 industry of Arizona.
 Inspection Bureau
 I desire to call your attention to ol of the recent accomplishments and a
 ventures of hay dealers organization
 the valley which has done more for t
 producers and dealers in the valley tn.
 any other movement that have knov or has come under my observation sin it has been my good fortune to COT : among you. l have reference to the i
 spection bureau.
 :, The inspection of hay at point of ol 7, gin with the support and co-operati ] of the inspector and producer, belle, e is one of the principal avenues throu : which Arizona hay will be placed
 the market again at par I am of t
 firm opinion that this inspection b - reau has the hearty cooperation