Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-09
COOPERATIVE MARKETING
BILL PASSED BY SENATE
One Vote Was Cast Against
the Measure Pressed
by Farm Bloc.
now GOES TO CONFERENCE
Ballot 80 to 1, In Regarded by Many
mn One of Most Sweeping Victories
Yet Attained by Agriculture
Iny AssoeIated Press


WASHINGTON. Feb. S.-The Hous,
cooperative marketing bill. a meas
ure designed to mid the agricultural
interests and pressed by the farm
bloc, was passed by the Senate late
today. Only one vote. that of Sena.
tor Gerry. Democrat. Rhode Island
was cast against the measure.
Two other Senators. Brandegec, Re
publican. Connecticut, and King
Democrat, Utah. were paired agains,
the measure and withheld their votes
The vote was So to l. and the Sem
ate's action was regarded by some
as the most sweeping OF the yicto-
ries yet attained by the farm bloc
since. I'm accepting the House bin, the
Senate OVERRIDE it's own judiciary
committee. which had reported n sub
s'itute measure. The substitute was
defeated. sc to 4.
Goes tn Conference.
The bill now goes to conference for
adjustment o: differences with the
House.
AS passed tonight. the bill retains
the provisions. which relieve tho CO.
operative associations from tho an
plica'ion ot laws prohibiting trusts
or unfair business practices. placing
the authority to determine when
such acts have been committed with
the Secretary OF Agriculture. The
Senate substitute would have made
the associations umendable to the
present laws. and IL was around this
point that debate revolved in the
week the subject was before the SER
ate.
During the closing hours of debate
today, reference was made to the
bioc's power. This brought from Sem
ntor Norris. Republican. Nebraska,
the statement that no had heard the
pi!l had administration support.
Norris In Pleased.
II Is the first time In many months
that the majority has come over to
my side" he added. 1T happens NO
almighty seldom that feel | must
make note OF It. Maybe the admin
tstration Is behind this bill. II that
Is so. then LINN glad they have come
over into the same wagon with me.
whether they came because of me or
III spite 81 mo. ! do not know. but I
welcome them here"
Tho bill was introduced s!multane-
ously In House and Senate in April
ot last year. 1t was acted on By tho
House carly. but when II reached the
Senate, IL lay in committee several
More delay came after II
was reported to the Senate and II was
for one reason or an
other. until Il week ago, when II was
made the unfinished business.
The most importan: OF the amend
ments accepted today Is one pro.
'iding that the associations shall
not den! in products of nonmembers
to an amount greater In value than
such as handled by 1t for members"
ThrottlcS Local Buxincss
This, II wns explained. makes Il
impossible for cooperative associa-
tons 10 be stolen" by n group OF In
dividuais who. merely by declining
10 admit new members, resolve them
selves into closed corporation,
without the amendment, the group
would be able. according to Senators.
TO engage in competitive trade, buy
ing other farmers products to an un-
limited extent. The amendment
limits any association to the hama
Ing OF commodities Of nonmcmbcrs
so that what was described MS n
throttle of local business. could nor
be obtained
other important provisions OF tho
Dill prescribe that no member OF an
association may have more than one
vote In directing It's activities regard
less OF the amount of stock he holds,
nor can any association pay divi-
bends on stock or membership capt.
tai In excess of S per cent a wear