Evening star., 1927-09-26
NEW OYSTER ED|CT
AROUSES SENATOR
Edge Tells President Ban on
Floating BivaIves DAM
ages Industry.

Charging discrimination on the part
of the Department Of Agriculture by
reason of it's recent order prohibiting
oyster growers from floating oysters
for fattening preparatory to market
ing them, Senator Walter E. Edge of
New Jersey, following a conference
with President Coolidge today, threat.
ened a congressional investigation, un-
less the order is repealed.
The New Jersey Senator said his
purpose in comforting with the Presi-
dent was to explain the situation to
him and to ask him to call for
thorough study of the subject on the
part of the Agriculture Department.
He explained that the oyster growers
along Maurice River. n. j.. have for
many years been floating" oysters
principally for the purpose of cleans
ing them and making them otherwise
marketable. He stated that the ques.
tion of contamination as result of
this process does not figure in the de.
partment's prohibitory order, and that
the only reason given by the depart
ment is that the floating constitutes
adulteration.
Says Growers Lose Money.
Senator Edge stated that although
the order went into effect only as late
as September ! it already has cost the
oyster growers affected by the order
more than quarter of million dol
lars. He said the conditions are grow
ing worse. and that the industry on
y 4
oysters are fioated faces a complete
tie-up unless some relief can be had.
He said he found the President very
symi, athletic and most willing to call
on the department for a full eXplana-
ton.
During his talk with the President,
the first one he has had with him
since early in the Summer, Senator
Edge congratulated him upon his ap-
pointment of Dwight w. Morrow of
New Jersey as Ambassador to Mexico.
Senator Edge stated that the country
is extremely, fortunate to obtain the
services of, a man so eminently quail
fed as Mr.. Morrow.
Senator Edge said that he and the
President did not discuss politics.
When asked what the situation was
i'm New Jersey, Senator Edge replied
still hitched to the Coolidge band
wagon, despite his statement that he
does not choose to run again"
He added that while the Republic
cans Of his State do not question the
Presidents sincerity, there Is a.
strong sentiment for him for anothert
term, and there is a general feeling
that he might change his mind or
else permit himself to be drafted
when the time comes to nominate
the standard bearer for 1879. He SAID
there Is a likelihood that New Jer-
sey will send an uninstructed dele
CATION to the Republican convention
which will stand ready to vote for
Coolidge If the occasion arises.
Urges u. S.-Owned Ships.
He added that, with Coolidge entire
lv and definitely out of the running,
he believes Charles Z. Hughes and Sec
retarv Hoover would possess the great
est strength In New Jersey. The sentl-
ment for these two is about evenly d.
vided, he thought.
Senator Edge, while bitterly OPP
posed to government ownership, has
come to the conclusion that if this Ma
tion is to have a merchant marine, 1t
must be Government owned and oper-
ated. He said experience has shown
that it is not possible to turn the oper-
alton of an adequate merchant ma
rine over to private owners, and that
the Government must now prepare IT.
self to shoulder this problem and to
build new ships to meet the needs OF
American shining