The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-11
Farm Bloc
Wins in Senate
House Marketing Bill Ac.
cepted Despite Judiciary
Committee Report
House

Washington. Feb. 2.-The house
cooperative marketing bin. a
measure designed TO aid the asri-
cultural interests and pressed BY
the farm bloc. was passed by the
senate late today. Only one vote.
that of Senator Merry (DemocraD
Of Rhode Island, was cast against
the measure. Two other senators.
Brandegee Republican, OF Con-
necticut and King DemocraU OF
Utah. were paired against the
measure and withheld their votes.
The vote was IS TO and the SEN
ate's action was regarded by some
e> the most sweeping OF the vic
tories yet attained by the farm
bloc since, in accepting the house
bill. the senate overrodc its own
judiciary committee which had re-
ported substitute measure. The
substitute was defeated. sc TO i.
The bill now goes 10 conference tor
adjustment of differences with the
house.
AS passed by the senate the bill
retains the provisions which re-
liere the cooperative associations
from the application Of laws pro-
hibi1ing trusts or unfair business
practices. placing the authority 10
determine when such acts have
been committed with the secretary
Of agriculture. The senate substi-
tute would have made the assJcla-
tons amenable 20 the present laws
and il was around this point that
debate revoived in the week the
subject was before the senate.
During the closing hours OF de-
bate today, reference was made to
the bloc's power. This brought
from Senator Norris CRepublican)
of Nebraska the statement that he
had heard the bill had admins
tration support.
1T is the first time in many
months that the majority has come
over TO my side he said. 1t hap
pens so almighty seldom that ] feel
l must make note Of it. Maybe the
administration is behind this bill.
If that is so then l am glad they
have come over into the same waS-
on with me. Whether they came
because Of me or in spite OF me, |
do not know, bGt l welcome them
here"
The most important OF the
amendments accepted by the senate
was one providing that the asso-
Citations shall not deal in products
OF non-members to an amount
greater in value than such as are
handled by it for members.
This. il was explained. makes ii
impossible for cooperative associa-
tious TO 'be stolen" by a group OF
individuals who merely by declin-
irg TO admit new members resolve
themselves into a closed corpora
zion. Without the amendment the
group would be able, according TO
senator's, 10 engage in competitive
trade by buying other farmers
products 10 an unlimited extent.
The amendment limits amy associa-
ton in the handling OF the COM
modities OF non-mcmberS so that
what was described as a throttle Of
local business could not be obtain
ed.
Other important provisions OF
the bill prescribe that no memb ber
OF an association may have more
than one vote in directing its ac-
tivities regardless OF the amount OF
stock he holds, nor can any asso-
citation pay dividends on stock, or
memberships capital in excess OF
per cent a year.
With respect TO the authority
granted the secretary Of asricul-
ture to control attempts 10 monop-
olize or restrain trade. the bill
provides that notice Of charges OF
alleged violations must be served
on the offending association and ii
must be given an opportunity TO de-
cend itself. Ii found guilty OF the
charges, the secretary OF aSrlcul-
turc may order the association 20
cease and desist" and in event o.:
its failure to do SO. the case then
may be referred TO the federal
courts for enforcement OF Ike or
der and the filing OF such DEGREES as
the courts deem equitable.