Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-11
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Foreign Advertising Representatives
The Produce Agency Act

The announcement from Washington that funds
have been provided for the enforcement Of the Pro-
duce Agency Act, passed at the last session of con-
gress, has been received with considerable interest
by Lower Rio Grande Valley growers and shippers.
When the measure was before congress for c~onsidera-
ton last year Valley interests enthusiastically spon-
sored it. Failure Of the deficiency bill in the last con-
gress left the Produce Agency Act without funds to
enforce it's provisions, but these have been provided
by the first deficiency bill passd at the present ses-
sion.
The act affects transactions in ~perishable farm
products in interstate commerce. It prohibits dumping
Of such products without good and sufficient cause.
It also prohibits the making of any false report or
statement to the shipper regarding the handling, con-
dition, quality, quantity, sale or disposition of such
products and failure to truly and correctly account for
shipments. The act will be administered by the Blu
reau of Agricultural Economics.
Proponents of the measure asserted it would prac-
tically eliminate the dishonest commission dealers who
have for years preyed upon the growers and shippers
of p~erishable farm products. The measure authorizes
the bureau to make q thorough investigation Of all
cases in which there seems to be good and sufficient
reasons for complaint, provided the necessary evil
dence, documentary and otherwise, on which to base
an investigation, is furnished the bureau. The law
holds that unsatisfactory returns, without some evil
dence of fraud or collision, do not constitute q viola
ton of the act.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley growers and ship
pers have been heavy losers as a result Of the opera
tions OF alleged dishonest commission dealers. IL Is
doubtful if there is a shipper in the Valley who has
not at some time had more or less experience with that
class of dealers, and they have often been forced to
submit to these dishonest practices because the cost
Of an investigation upon which to base action in the
scourts would have been greater than the loss of the
shipment. Under the provisions of the new measure
such investigations will be undertaken by the Bureau
of Agricultural Economics, when good evidence OF
fraud or collision is provided, and the agents of the
bureau will determine whether there is a basis for
action.
Those who have been in the habit Of preying upon
the shippers and the growers they induce TO ship TO
them have taken advantage of the fact that their VIC
tins are seldom in position to push an investigation
and reveal the dishonest practices. The small shipper
cannot afford to spend several hundred dollars in
making an investigation to salvage a comparatively
small loss, and hundreds Of dealers over the United
States have made huge profits by thus victimizing the
shippers of perishables.
Agents of the bureau have stated that a vigorous
campaign will be started Immediately to eliminate
those dealers who have existed through the practice
of fraud, and who, according to conservative estimates,
secure millions Of dollars worth Of perishables each
year from the American farmers and pay little or
nothing in return.