The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-09
SENATE APPROVES
MARKETING BILL

Washington, Feb. S.-The house CO.
operative marketing bill, measure
designed to aid the agricultural in
tcrests and pressed by the farm bloc,
was passed by the senate late today.
Only one vote, that of Senator Merry
(Democrat) of Rhode Island, was cast
against the measure. Two other SEN
ators, Brandegee (Republican) of
Connecticut and King (Democrat) of
Utah, were paired against the meas
ure and withheld their votes. The
vote was IS to 1 and the senate's ac-
ton was regarded by some as the
most sweeping of the victories yet at
tanned by the farm bloc since, in ac-
cepting the house bill, the senate
oYerrode it's own judiciary COM
mittee which had reported a substi-
tutc measure. The substitute was
defeated by Sc to 4. The bill now
goes to conference for adjustment of
differences with the house.
AS passed by the senate the bill re-
tains the provisions which relieve the
cooperative associations from the ap-
plication of 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 asso-
Citations amenable to the present laws
and it was around this point that de-
bate revolved in the week the sub
cct was before the senate.
During the closing hours of debate
today, reference was made to the
bloc's power. This brought from Sen
ator Norris (Republican) of Nebraska
the statement that he had heard the
bill had administration support.
at is the first time in many months
that the majority has come over to
my side," he said. at happens so
almighty seldom that feel I must
make note of it. Maybe the admin
istration is behind this bill. If that is
so then 1 am glad they have come
over into the same wagon with me.
Whether they came because of me or
in spite of me, do not know, but l
eelcome them here"
The most important of the amend
ments accepted by the senate was one
providing "that the associations shall
not deal in products of non-members
to. an amount greater in value than
such as are handled by it for MEM
hers."
This, it was explained, makes it i'm
possible for cooperative associations
to "be stolen" by group of individ-
uals who merely by declining to admit
new members resolve themselves into
a closed corporation. Without the
amendment the group would be able,
according to senator's, to engage in
competitive trade by buying other
farmers products to an unlimited ex-
tent. The amendment limits any as
sociation in the handling Of the COM
modities of non-members so that what
was described as a throttle of local
business could not be obtained.
Other important provisions of the
bill 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 ne holds,
nor can any association pay dividends
on stock or memberships capital in
excess of 8 per cent a year.
With respect to the authority
granted the secretary of agriculture
to control attempts to monopolize or
RESTRAIN trade, the bill provides that
notice Of charges of alleged violations
must be served on the offending asso-
citation and it must be given an oppor-
tunity to defend itself. If found guilty
Of the charges, the secretary of agri-
culture may order the association to
"cease and desist" and in event Of its
failure to do so, the case then may
be referred to the federal courts for
enforcement of the order and the fling
of such DEGREES as the courts deem
equitable.