Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-10
RELATING TO EMBARGoES


products. This may be thought
to support the statement being
made by certain florists that en-
bargoes by England are in retaliation
for some put into effect by this
country.
One subscriber, florist in
neighboring county, characterizes the
embargo by this country Jan. j,
1926 of narcissus bulbs, as one OF
those wholly unnecessary and provo
cative Of retaliation. He calls atten-
ton ITO an article by James Nc
Hutchinson in the New York Times
frcm which we take the following:
1.-THE Plant Quarantine law of
1912 created the Federal Horti-
cultural Board, and Congress gave
power to this board to make regula-
lions to protect this country from in
sect pests and plant diseases new
to or not widely distributed in the
United States" to which no objec-
ton was made. But this board, con-
sisting Of five bureau chiefs in the
Department of Agriculture, with its
creator as chairman, began at once
ITO impose absolute embargoes,
against all protests, until it now has
over sixty of them. Some of those
embargoes are perhaps necessary;
others are not only unnecessary but
serve no purpose other than to give
economic protection to favored few
and to provide Federal jobs and in
cidentally destroy much valuable
commerce. This is perhaps to be eX-
pected, since the members of the
board are largely entomologists and
show only contempt for trade in
terests. The board is now operating
what In effect is a progressive en-
barge against all horticultural and
many agricultural products from ali
sources. This board is a fine ex-
ample of bureaucracy run loose
just the type which President Cool
idge and Secretaries Hughes and
Hoover and others have expressed
desire to eliminate, for the possibility
Of injury to American trade interests
by its methods is incalculable.
OF course Congress never intended
to give this little board of five bu-
reau chiefs such power. but what
authority is there in this country to
prevent it from using this vast power
in an arbitrary way Which not only
destroys American trade to an
alarming degree but brings retalia-
tory embargoes from other nations
in a way that is apparently quite
unknown to Congress? 1t is re-
sponsible only to the Secretary of
Agriculture, and all protests made to
the Secretary of Agriculture go right
back to this board, so they get no.
where, and the board has ample
power to punish the protestants.
The Hearings" required by law are
arranged to carry out the letter
rather than the intent of the law.
Such important power should not be
given to a. small governmental board
unless its decisions are subject to
appeal, for such scientists are
necessarily OUT of touch with the
commercial needs of this country
and their embargo policy inevitably
must bring reprisals from other ma
lions. such as the English embargo
on our potato exports.
England has protested many times
against our unwise embargo policy;
SO has Holland. France, Belgium
and many other nations-and be-
cause these protests We're ignored
these nations are now giving us
some Of our own medicine, which
they warned us they would do.
Right now Spain refuses to renew
y.
enlarged her grapes. Mexico is
threatening because we embargoed
her fruits. Holland and Belgium are
threatening to embargo our fruits
and wheat and cereals. And others
are sure to come unless we change
our policy.
Next Jan. / an embargo will go
into effect upon Narcissus bulbs Gun
less repealed by the Federal Horti-
cultural Board in the meantime).
Not upon a specific variety, from a
specific source, for specific purpose
as the law requires, but on Sus-
picion, all varieties, from all sources.
These bulbs produce flowers which
are used and priced by millions of
our citizens, but their protests count
for nothing. The past season this
country imported around 10000. 900
OF these bulbs from France, Holland.
and England. And can we wonder
II these nations impose similar en-
bargoes upon our exports Of fruit
and cereals in reprisal?"
This, however, is not the last word
In the controversy. Conclusion
should not be arrived at before hear
ing what the Plant Board has to say
for itself. But one NAV hardly
avoid the conclusion that England is
making use Of the embargo act
against our products for a putpose.
ana IN the matter Of potatoes her
contention that the American variety
was accompanied by potato bugs.
whlie she was admitting the
Canadian potatoes, was worse than
absurd.
Nnsv H.