Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-17
BULCED PACK
is RANISHED
FROM VALLEY
Agreed Weights On
Vegetables to be In
~corporated In Rate
Tariff Supplement

me bulged pack has been banished
IRON the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
AZ the hearing in Harrington this
week before ". P. Bartell of Wash
1ngton, director of service of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, an
eSreement was reached between the
campers and carriers, and this agree.
ment, which provides for uniform
containers and uniform weights, will
oe Incorporated into the Valley vege-
table freight tariff in the form Of a
supplement.
ANY deviation from this tariff will
pe a violation of the federal law pun
nab by imprisonment in the fed
eral ~penitentiary. The weights es-
taolished by the Interstate Commerce
commission after several years Of
investigation in which over 100000
1ilied vegetable containers were
weighed, will be accepted by the VAL
icy shippers and carriers and incor-
porated in the new tariff.
The pack will be standardized by
the tariff which prescribed that a
SU-inch strip be used to fasten the
top of the container. This permits a
moderate bulge, sufficient TO insure
full weight, but will not permit the
excessive bluging which heretofore
has characterized many of the Valley
packs. Weights for all commodities
k1khipped by the Valley were agreed
upon, the schedule of weights to be
included in the tariff supplement.
All hampers, crates and other con-
tainers used by Valley shippers will
be Of the same size, with the tops
fastened according TO the manner
prescribed in the tariff supplement.
This will assure uniform packs and
weights from all Valley shipping
points.
Under the new Southwestern rates,
which will 20 into effect July s, car
minimums of $4,000 pounds are fixed
for all commodities into all terri
tories. This will eliminate much Of
the overlooking which in former sea-
sons has been caused by a medley OF
minimums. and this. combined with
the uniform pack. is expected to as
sure a wider range for Valley vege-
tables. as shipments will arrive at
destinations in better condition than
under the present pack and loadings.
The tariff supplement will be pub
lished and placed in effect within 90
days.
All Shippers Notified
Director Bsrtell announced that st
the formal hearing, which followed
ar informal conference in which
agreement was reached upon all Is
sues. that all shippers in the Valley
had been notified Of the hearing and
requested to attend. He took the
view that failure to attend was tanta-
mount to acquisence in any agree
ment that might be reached by those
present, and announced that the
weights and rules agreed upon would
be made official.
James A. Lawson. special agent OF
I%he Interstate Commerce Commission.
who had spent five months in the
Valley, during which time he had
weighed thousands of filled contain
ers and Investigated the packs of the
various shippers, presented some in
teresting observations at the infor-
nal hearing. He asserted that VAL
lev shippers and the carriers were
sustaining heavy losses az a result
OF failure 70 ~standardize the pack.
and urged the shippers and carriers
TO get together upon q basis that
would assure the elimination Of such
loss.
Pass Resolution
At the close of the hearing the fol-
lowing resolution vas passed and
signed by the "a shippers and repre-
sentatives of carriers present:
Resolved, that we extend TO
Director Bartell and his assistant,
Mr.. Lawson, representing the Inter
state Commerce Commission. our ap-
probation of the interest they have
taken in the matter of adjusting the
difficulties experienced with respect
to weights on vegetables shipped
from the Rio Grande Valley and the
Winter Garden section of Texas.
Thew have approached the subject
with open minds and have conducted
the investigation IN a most thorough
ard practical manner. The confer
ence with the shippers and carriers
initiated BY Director Bartell was
happily conceived and admirably
handled.
"We congratulate him upon the
successful outcome Of this confer
ence.
"We feel that the adoption of stan
eard packages and agreed weights TO
apply thereon will prove of inestim-
able benefit to the vegetable indus
try not only IN the Rio Grsnde Val
lev but in other portions of the state.
1--WE congratulate the commission
lcr this splendid constructive work.
"Resolved. Further. that o p Of
these resolutions be sent to the
Interstate Comerce Commission and
10 the chairman Of the senate COM
rittee on interstate commerce"