Imperial Valley press., 1920-08-20
COMMISSION
MEN GRAFT
CHARGE
MADE
Investigation of Charges
Now Under Way. May
Prosecute. Growers As
s0ciation Organiza t j O n
; Leads to Action.

AS the result of agitation due to
actions being taken in formation of
the proposed fruit and vegetable
growers cooperative organization in
the valley, and the consequent better
understanding of present marketing
conditions by valley growers an in
vestigation of Eastern commission
merchants and their Los Angeles con-
nections has been begun by j. E.
C'Neil through the state bureau of
marketing.
O'Neil claims that after having dis
posed of his crop at great. profit
to themselves ard none at all to him,
they sent him bills unitemized for
service rendered which demanded a
recompense in excess of value re-
ceived.
These bills have been turned over
to the state marketing bureau and by
the bureau have been placed in the
hands of experts who are now making
a thorough investigation. When the
investigation is complete, according
to James Britt Of the marketing bu-
-, roau, the findings will be laid before
y the department of justice in Los An
geles, and prosecution will undoubted-
ly result.
Speaking of the progress being
make in the organization of the pro-
posed association Britt today said
at is my belief that the north part
Of the county will be organized 80
per cent strong. The reason for this
is that they have begun to talk of or
Ganizing before, and that they are
consequently in a better position to
proceed with their plans.
"This portion of the country, while
1T may be slower to come into the or
ganization will, am sure, join in
such numbers as to make the organ
iZation certain of success. | base my
estimate upon the fact that although
most of the growers are now out of
the valley practically all of those here
attended the meetings and have
shown interest and intention to join"
- This organization, Britt pointed
out, is strictly non-stock non profit,
and is not only for the purpose of Sc
curing better rate of return for the
grower, but will also insure fairer
price to the consumer. The OrganiZa-
ton will equalize distribution, and
will thus prevent flooded or famined
market in any one place. By it's sys-
tenn of grading and inspection it will
insure satisfactory and uniform
market, it will prevent the shipping
of bad fruit by it's inspection depots,
and by the same means it will pre-
vent the rejection of good fruit as un-
desirable by the merchant. In case a
shipment is spoiled the organization
will gain for the grower the recon-
oenso from the railroad or other ship
ping firms which has previously gone
to the commission houses.
A membership fee of $40 per acre,
to be paid in two promisory notes, due
respectively one and two years from
date, is charged to cover expenses and,
to provide means by which the
grower, in case of necessity, may raise
money, is charged, as well as a fee
of 81 an acre to provide for expenses
of the organization.
Membership in the organization is
for a term of three years, but the
grower is not compelled to raise
fruits or vegetables. Should he raise
them, however, he must remain with
the organization, and must, under
penalty, abide by it's rulings. He can
not transfer his crop, nor can any
other member of his family, living
with him, raise fruits or vegetables
on his land without being subject to
the rulings of the organization.
K will be impossible for a large
grower to dominate this organization,
saws Fred N. Bigelow AS the assO-
ciation is non-stock, and purely one
man one vote, the small and large