, 1935-04-25
FRUIT HEARING
AT WESLACO IS
NEARINCCLOSE
Two Shippers Speak
In Own Behalf On
Wednesday - Four
Firms Before Judge

wESLACO. Tex, April 25.-Pro-
ceedings nc hearings being con-
Quoted by United States Department
OF Agriculture officials here in con
nection with alleged violations Of
the national citrus marketing agree
ment by Lower Rio Grande Valley
shippers were enlivened when two
shippers appeared in their own be-
half Wednesday.
Truckers Fruit company OF Ed
inburg was represented by Fletcher
II. Elliott who elected to stand on
hts original answer to the govern
ment's show-cause order and did
not testify for the company.
Valley Fruit company Of Pharr,
operated by Roy Weir, was repre-
sented by Jack Williams. who teS-
titled TO the firms methods Of do
ing business and insisted that the
firm was not q shipper. When gov
eminent counsel asked about the
sign: valley Fruit Company.
0AOMEA -1AAADDGAW EAAnAA 4CA13
painted on the company's car, VIII
Hams answered that the sign was
for advertising purposes"
Both firms were represented by
Cameron, Hardin a. Bridges OF Ed
inburg through Sid L. Hardin. The
government was represented by G.
Osmond Hyde and Alfred l. Dorf.
both from the Solicitors office OF
the Department Of Agriculture,
Washington.
No Representation
Both OF the firms agreed
through counsel with government
attorneys concerning facts relative
to the control committee, the Fed
eral-State Inspection Service and
other facts which had been agreed
upon in earlier cases by opposing
counsel.
Ed Roberts Of Edinburg and Clay
Everhard of Pharr, individual ship
pers, were not represented by coun-
sci, both croSs-examining govern
ment witnesses and testifying In
their w behalf.
Roberts stated he did not believe
in taxation without representa-
ton" and that as a new shipper.
he could not vote on membership
OF the control committee. He de-
clared allOtments issued by the
control committee for the move
ent Of grapefruit were not suffi-
cient to allow him to operate and
amounted. in his case, to cancella-
ton OF allotments. He told the
presiding officer and government
counsel that Il have to make a
living regardless OF the AAA." He
denied being "a shipper and explain
ed truck shipments charged 70
him, the government introducing
evidence which II contended prov
ed entrance OF the shipments into
interstate commerce.
Everhard Cross Questions
Clay Everhard of Pharr, promi-
nent Valley grower and resident,
declined to agree with government
attorneys concerning certain facts
relating TO the control committee al
though agreeing or others.
n. W. O.. Swartwout. state citrus
co-ordinator and secretary OF the
committee. testified for the gov
eminent concerning commit { e q
functions and meetings and to de-
tails Of proration periods and allot-
ents. He was croSS-examined by
Everhard in connection with the
methods used in determining al
lotments for individual shippers
Taking the witness stand in his
own behalf. Everhard testified that
all his truck shipments amounted
10 sale OF fruit on a cash basis and
that he didn't see why the gov
eminent should be interested In my
business Government counsel, as
I'm the Roberts hearings. introduced
evidence IL contended proved some
OF the Everhard fruit found It's
way into channels Of interstate
commerce.