Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-22


had seen some Of the mortgages given
J by Aroostook farmers and that they
included not only the potatoes, but the
hay and horses. IF you mako dogs
property" he added, they will take
the dogs, too. Listen to my tale Of
woe"
Mr.. Barnes said that this was not
to be an organization in restraint Of
trade. 1t would handle the crops of
| those who Voluntarily Joined and
would not buy OR handle the crops
of any other person. In closing he
said that five towns In Aroostook
| shipped half the annual potato CROP
Of the county.
/ Opposition to some of the provis-
ions of the act was voiced by Her.
| bert Powers of Fort Fairfield, who
declared that it seemed to him that
! they should be carefully considered
| by the committee.
He said in the first place that the
act did not provide for the incorpor-
| alton of one large association, but
for "a district organizations, which.
II the Arrangements see At, may In
time come together In one whole.
Powers asserted, ties up his crop to
the association for Ave years and
the association has the power to
mortgage his crop or do anything
else it sees At. 1t also has the au-
thority to use the proceeds of the
sale of the produce as 1t sees fit.
do you gentlement think that is
wise?" he asked. ut gives the as
ISOLATION the power to use the pro-
ceeds in what might prove to be the
lankest stock specializing scheme.
Moreover. the contract doesn't
go on record and you are asked SO
his crop over to the association,
while the public has no earning or
record as to who owns those goods"
| The penalty provided for the breach
of contract. involving liquidating
damages, was also criticised by Mr..
] Powers, who declared that it was a
curious proposition. you are asked
to pass this BILL" he said. because
the farmers want to Joint the or
ganization, and then they say in the
same breath that they have got to
have q severe penalty to compel a
member to stay in, once he has join
ed. This section establishes taxa
ton of costs in suits that is repug-
, nant to my sense of fairness. II
the member wins in one of these
suits, why not provide that he should
have the chance to recover his costs
Mr.. Powers likewise found fault
with the section of the act providing
that if a man leases his land, all
! crops grown on it shall be turned
over to the association, and he
thought it a peculiar stipulation that
if promoters of the PROJECT made con-
tracts IN anticipation OF the enact
mcnt of the bill. those contracts
tN n &c
! though they were made after the
organization of the association. II
don't believe that that sort of legis-
i lation is wise." he added.
| He declared that there isn't any
objection to cooperative marketing
organization so far as he knew, but
he did not think that the creation OF
all this mass Of legislation was nee
essary.
Mr.. Powers said that he felt the
1 ware house act of the Legislature OF
| 1917 provided all the law needed for
the organization OF cooperative mar
keting organizations in this State
He did not regard it as wise for the
| Legislature to enact a law giving
such great powers to these small dis
trict organizations as this bill con-
tanned.
tit oCtldIcO tlidl Slitic was Aoti
ing in the bill which eliminated
speculation and assured the COM
| mittee that certain of the gentlemen
interested in the movement had stat
ed that it was the purpose If, wher
| potatoes came into the warehouses
| the prices were not satisfactory tr
store the goods until they were. II
that was not speculation he would
like to know what it was.
Senator Hinckley: Are YOU opposed
to the idea?
| Mr. Peers: ! am not opposed to
cooperative marketing, but do not
f. regard this law as required to per-
NIT it in Maine.
Senator Hnckley: Do you rep
! resent clients who might oppose this
law?
| Mr. Powers: No: I represent a
| group of business men, some OF whom
| are buyers of potatoes and some OF
| whom are growers. who 1eel that this
law is unnecessary and that 1t Is
| giving these organizations undue
| advantages over them. / have some
| clients who have signed these con-
| tracts and have consulted me as to
| hoy they can get out from under it
| Mr., Maher: Your clients feel that
! there is law enough.
Mr.. Powers: They do They don't
think this organization should have
rights Of contracts with growers
which are denied to individuals.
Senator Hinckley: You think the
| general law of contracts should be
sufficient.
| Mr.. Powers: Exactly.
! Fireworks at Sensational Climax
| The hearing reached a very SEN
sational climax during the statement
by Thomas G. Chamberlain of New
| York, member of the bar OF the
Empire State and of the California
bar, who replied to some of the con-
! tentions Of Mr.. Powers.
! 1--WE charge that the opposition TO
, this bill has resorted to tactics that
| are absolutely dishonest and unfair.
Mr.. Chamberlain shouted, and there
we're cries of mo. no." from many
| in the gathering, while Senator Buz-
zell, the chairman of the committee,
| attempted to stop him.
| Mr.. Chamberlain kept right on,
| however, asserting that he had two
| growers who wished to testify re-
! garding alleged statements made by
| MIR. Powers and at this point Mr..
| Barnes sprang to his feet and in
| terrupted him. :.
| II am in charge o. this hearing
| said Mr.. Barnes, as he advanced
| toward the committee. land am
not going to permit any street cor
! ner talk to go in here" Handing a
COPY Of the bill to the chairman, he
| added: I'VE rest our case"
Scarcely had he resumed his seat
when Mr.. Chamberlain. who was Still!
on his feet and trying to get the at
| tention of the committee, made the
statement that he intended to sue
| Mr.. Powers for libel.
g.. l;s how'd ho