, 1935-05-01
OPERATION OF
CITRUS PERMIT.
IS DISCUSSED
Hearings Continue AT
Weslaco; Swartwout
Gives Testimony
For Government

the Agricultural Adjustment Ad-
ministration Tuesday continued q
long series OF hearings In connec-
ton with alleged violations Of the
national citrus marketing agree
ment by Lower Rio Grande Valley
shippers.
The only case heard Tuesday was
that OF Louis Abraham, operating
as the Famous Blue Ribbon Citrus
Groves OF Mission. Abraham was
not present and vas represented by
his answer TO the showcase order
issued by the Secretary Of Agricul-
ture and q letter addressed to the
Texas Citrus Control Committee.
Seven Testify
The government called seven wit
nesses in the hearing. They were r.
W. O. Swartwout. state citrus CO.
crdinator and secretary Of the con-
troll committee, who testified to set
up and methods Of the committee
and other factual matters contained
IN previous agreements of facts; @.
@. Todd. committee accountant who
testified 10 alleged developments
and shipments OF unclassified fruit
by the Blue Ribbon Groves; Hart
T. Loneino Of Harrington, who test
flied to INTERPRETATION Of the COM
mittee and the Federal-State In
spection Service; o. w. Shaver,
Mission railway agent, who testified
~ Blue Ribbon fruit shipments: ".
o. Scott, manager Of the Nick Dof-
flng Company of Mission; who told
OF packing and shipping several
quantities of citrus for Blue Ribbon
and selling a small amount; Dick
VIM, cog1trol committee employe
who asserted he mailed regular ap-
plicatson and other blanks TO the
Blue Ribbon Groves; and B. o. Pat
tison, state citrus inspector, who
told OF certificates for certain truck
shipments and shipments into in
terState commerce by the Groves.
The governments evidence was
designed to prove its contentious
that the Groves violated the ship
pers' license and sent unclassified
grapefruit into channels Of inter-
state commerce.
Asks Modification
At Abraham's request, Judge Glen
j. Clifford, designated IS presiding
officer during the hearings by the
Secretary, held q hearing On pro-
posed modification Of the license. q.
g. Todd and r. ". o. Swartwout:
Clyde II. Roquemore, Of the Field
Investigation Section Of the AAA;
and Robert G.. Evans Of the General
-Crops Section OF the AAA, were
called as government witnesses.
Swartwout asserted Abraham was
the only one of $50 shippers in the
valley who requested modification
hearing. His testimony indicated the
control committee vas sufficiently
empowered to act in any matter
conf. cnting q shipper In the posi-
ton Abraham claimed to be.
FoduenDre testified TO Is years
experience in citrus and that groves
"a other parts OF the Valley had
been hurt as seriously a. the Fam
j EiCe Ribbon Groves northwest
az mission. re asserted the trans
fef OF al.s tments clause In the u
maca adequate provision Tor
the applicants needs without mod
is:cation Of the license.
Plenty Of shippers
Evans testimony was largely tech
nical and explained the transfer
az allotments by use of q hypotheti-
cal case He stated that a person
applying for an allotments Of 200
hoxes for each ~proration period who
found he could not use the allot-
ments for the first and second per-
iods could receive unused allot-
ments during later periods by ex-
planning the situation TO the con-
troll committee. His testimony also
stated there was no need for mod
if.cation.
Todd asserted committee records
showed that 90 shippers OF the VAL
lgy's $50 shippers handled more than
10 cars OF grapefruit each during the
nast season, or 94.3 per cent OF the
total, and that 522 shippers who
moved less than 10 cars each ham
died only l.6 per cent Of the total.
Total grapefruit shipments during
the season were 2.263.610 standard
boxes, the equivalent Of 6,2s7.S cars
Of $50 boxes each.
Being heard Wednesday were
cases OF La Bonita Fruit Company
ot Harrington and Mission Citrus AS
ISOLATION Of Mission, the only VAL
ley cooperative cited thus far for
alleged violations Of the marketing
agreement. AS in all previous cases.
government counsel viii be q. Os-
mond Hyde and Alfred l. Dorf OF
washington, members Of the staff
of the Solicitor OF the United States
Department OF Agriculture.