, 1935-09-11
POTATO ACT
lconlInued Prom Page Onel

Continued From Page One)
tatoes were grown during any RI cr
more years within the period of 1884,
"a inclusive. Application must ne
made for such apporti0nment-
The criticism that every back yard
truck garden would be affected ap-
pears unJustified because the Dill as
received here provides for an exenp-
ton OF farms with average sales OK
800 pounds or less In making ap-
portionments, consideration VIII %
given 70 quantity cf potatoes pro-
duced and sold In the past ON On
farm. the acreage OF the farm avail
able for producti-n OF potatoes and
which the farmers are currently
equipped 70 devote 70 the prcduc-
ton or potatoes
Tax exemptions will be issued GO
farms for the amount OF potatoes
equal TO the apportionment made TO
such farms. Only bona fide growers
during the current allotment year
will be eligible 20 receive tax gxenp-
ton stamps.
The secretary OF agriculture VIII
establish and define potato prcduc-
ing sections on the basis or market
ing periods and will fix the period
during which tax-exemption stamps
issued shall be valid In the various
areas.
All potatoes harvested OF CT after
Dec. ] 1885 and sold In the United
States must be- packed I'm closed
and marked containers to which tax
exemption stamps must be affixed
Proper records or potatoes handled
must be kept by producers and ship
pers.
A penalty OF not more than
$1,000 Is provided for those refus-
ing 70 file such returns or filing
false returns or keeping false rec
ords. Similar penalties r provided
for other violations.
Quotas for entry OF potatoes
from ". .. territories and posses
sIcns are to be established and Hll
potatoes In excess OF such quotas
viii be taxed The same as domestic
potatoes In addition TO the pay
ment OF the usual customs duties.
Cuba Is EXEMPTED.
"A referendum Is 10 be conducted
nc least 80 days prior to the Begin
ming OF each allotment year after
the first allotment year. In other
words there will be no referendum
before the first year that the Law
goes into effect. Growers win be
permitted one vote for each %
pounds apportioned TO them and
only one third On the votes need
be cast In opposition To the plan To
render II inoperative.
The secretary may change tbs
tax 70 as low as one half cent q
pound " he finds the program
tends to affect the potato market
adversely.
Opponents OF the bin. which con-
trary to the general suppoEtion
did not have the support of the
Agricultural Adjustment Admins
tration. fear that the $4,000 large
growers In the United States who
are responsible for the measure may
Be able TO outvote 10000 small
growers because the referendum
win be based on the amount grown
and not WI vote per grower.
Constitutionality OF the bill im
questioned by other critics.
Among the severest critics or the
bill were the representatives
making the minority report from
the congressional committee. They
were outspoken In their opposition,
attacking It's constitutionality. de-
claring the measure unavoidable.
compulsory and expensive I'm ad-
mtnistration. 10 Is estimated thai
II would cost Sl2.000.000 to admin
lister the act.
The prediction OF critics is that
potatoes will be bootlegged and
that many citizens VIII be- spied
upon 70 see whether hey are
violating the bill. The measure also
Is declared by critics to b. unne-
ceSSnwT.
Those favoring the bill say that
u cannot harm the potato business
because II could not possibly be any
worse than II Is now and that 10
may indirectly prevent chain store
manipulation OF the potato market.
The bill Is intended to curb over
production.
"A. u. Mercker has been named
chief OF the potato section and he
will be assisted by III. g. Thompson.
head OF the department OF vege-
table crop or Cornell University
The newly formed potato section
will be q unit or the division of
tobacco, sugar. rice and peanuts
headed by j. II. Hutson who win
have general supervision over the
potato program.
Mercker has had many years ex-
perience In marketing fruits and
vegetables and has served with sew
eral farrers co-operatives and the
bureau " markets or the Y. =
/ Dept. or Agriculture. IN 1897 he waa
chief OF the New Jersey state Blu
reau OF Mar. us
The national potato allotment
Is expected To BE- ready for an.
nouncemsnt by Nov. !. This allot-
ment win mean tax free potatoes
Only potatoes TN excess OF allot-
ments viii be taxed.
lC00F nAA ~