, 1935-03-17
Miles Writes Second Article on Problems
OfRio Grande Val ley Citrus Growers A nd
Outlines Steps for Correcting Mistakes


son OF 1934-35, the present one, no
administrative difficulties OF any
note we're decided upon by the
Committee.
The first question OF consider
able Valley-wide Importance. on
which the committee was required
to pass, was that Of the prohibition
Of the shipment of "unclasSified'
fruit. After a meeting of approx
imately 1000 growers at Mercedes,
at which the growers voted almost
unanimously in favor Of not ship
ping "unclassified fruit" the COM
mittee unanimously passed a ruling
prohibiting the shipment Of 'un-
classified"
After the need was apparent TO
the industry. and after consider
able preSsuS was brought TO bear.
the committee voted for weekly res
friction Of shipments on grape
fruit, and their first order was TO
the effect that the shippers, as a
whole. could not ship Esore than
$50 cars in the following week.
This order was ignored bI a large
percentage Of the shippers, and
during the first week Of prohibi-
ton 300 cars were shipped. the
surplus being In violation Of the
order of the committee. For the
next week the committee abandon
Ell regulation or restriction OF ship
ments. and the next week ordered
that only $50 cars could be ship
ped. In spite of this order 452 cars
were shipped, and each succeeding
week there were further violations
by the independent shippers and
one cooperative. These cars shipped
in excess OF the weeks prorata had
in violation Of the agreement, ma
turally prevented the accrual Of
the benefits expected.
Under the terms Of the agree
ment. as suggested by an amend
ment submitted by the independ-
ent shippers. all shippers must turn
in to the committe certificates OF
the growers representing the fruit
they shipped within 48 hours after
the close Of the weekly restriction
period. Many Of the independent
shippers failed TO turn in these
certificates. ignoring their own
amendment entirely. and the COM
mittee took no official action to
have these shippers penalized.
Against Probation
After the second week OF regula-
ton OF shipments, at nearly every
meeting one Of the independent
shippers committee member intro
duced a resolution or a motion
designed to entirely kill proration
and regulation of shipments by the
committee. and destroy the effects
OF the act, the agreement and the
committee itself. Such motions and
resolutions were prevented from be-
coming effective through the votes
OF the members Of the cooperatives
and the grower-member. Mr..
Skaags. II was apparent to the
members OF the committee and 10
the observers in attendance. that
the independent shipper represen-
tatives were determined. If possible.
TO prevent any regulation OF the
committee, under the agreement.
from becoming effective in regard
to the limitation Of volume Of
shipments. without regard TO the
beneficial effect upon the growers
interests.
Some shippers did not even apply
for weekly allotments. as provided
under the agreement and notices
sent out from the committee. Others
took a defiant attitude and declin-
ed TO be governed by the agree
ment which they had signed, or
under which they were licensed.
Fourteen smaller shippers. com
prising the membership OF the
Texas Citrus Independent Shippers
attempted in federal court 70 m
join the committee from enforcing
the agreement. The result OF this
suit at this writing is not known.
Having been the instigator and
the one most interested and active
In the drawing of the citrus agree
men with the Secretary Of Agri-
culture for the benefit Of the grow
ers in the Valley, the writer must
acknowledge a great mistake in his
Judgment as 10 the successful
functioning OF this agreement,
and that IS that he and others
were mistaken in presuming that
independent shippers on the COM
mittee would vote for any mea-
sures beneficial TO the growers
which would be in opposition to his
own interests or in restriction Of
their own volume Of shipments.
The members Of the committee,
who are elected by the cooperatives
namely, Mr.. Ted Melden; his subs
titute. Mr.. Donald; Mr.. Rouse,
manager Of the Mercedes aSsocia-
ton: his alternate. Mr.. Hall. sales
manager OF the Mercedes Associa-
ton; Mr.. Miller, sales manager OF
the Exchange; and his alternate.
the writer: and Mr.. Jack Keefe, OF
the American Fruit Growers; al
ternate for Mr.. Wittenburg, have
always been in accord in working
and voting for any measure which
were for the advantage OF the
growers as a whole. and the same
may be said OF Mr.. Skaggs, the
unaffiliated grower-member OF the
committee. The above named men,
bers, with the exception OF Mr..
Skaggs and the writer. are salaried
representatives of the covers they
represent and are unanimous In
their efforts to raise the price le-
vel on the growers commodities.
The members of the committee
elected by the independents, on
the other hand. represent the in
dependents interests. and when
ever an action is brought before
the committee which cuts down
their volume OF shipments. they
vote and argue in favor Of their