Montana labor news., 1937-10-28
FARMERS UNION ASKS
COMMISSION TO FIX
FAIR PRICE OF SpUDS|


Madison, Powell, Deer Lodge, Bea-
verhead and Silver Bow Counties.
producing potatoes in that area ad-
jacent to the cities and towns of
Whitehall, Twin Bridges, Sheridan,
Dillon, Anaconda, Deer Lodge and
Butte through their agent, the
Farmers Union Trading Company, of
Butte, filed with the Montana Trade
Commission a petition showing that
the said producers of potatoes, which
represented rs per cent of the pro-
ducers in their respective areas, had
set the following prices on potatoes:
U. S. No. Is, netted gem, russet or
like variety, 81 per cwt.
U. S. Commercials or Combination,
80 cents per cwt.
u S. No Us, so cents per cwt.
Other varieties-U. S. No. Is, IS
cents per cwt.; U. S. Commercials or
Combinations, 10 cents per cwt.; u.
S. No. Us, SIS cents per cwt.
The potato producers in their petit
ton asked the Montana Trade Com
mission, which is under the Board of
Railroad Commissioners, to approve
the prices to the farmers.
Chapter 80, which was passed by
the last legislature, gives the right
to the producers to set the prices on
farm commodities when rs per cent
of the producers agree to said prices.
In addition to this, the legislature
made it mandatory on the Montana
Trade Commission to set not only
the producers price, but that of the
jobbers, wholesalers, retailers and
consumers as we'll
In their petition the producers of
potatoes demanded a hearing by the
Montana Trade Commission to set
said prices and a hearing was duly
had, on October is, 1887, by the
Montana Trade Commission, at the
Capitol Building, in Helena, Mon
tana after notice was given to all
producers, jobbers, wholesalers, re-
tailers and consumers in the areas
mentioned.
It was brought out in the evidence
that in addition to setting the prices
for the producers, as herein set FORTH
that the jobbers should be given at
least 10 cents per 100 pounds; that
the wholesalers must sell to the re-
tailers for SIPS per 100 pounds; and
the retailers must sell to the con-
sumers at $3.50 per 100 pounds. This
price relates to where the farmer re-
ceives 81 per 100 pounds for the
highest price potatoes and the price
to the consumers on the other classes
of potatoes is to be figured in pro-
portion.
It was pointed out at the hearing
| by Senator Garrison that his organi-
zation, which is the Farmers Union
Trading Company, which represent
ed the producers of potatoes at the
hearing, had the endorsement of the
Silver Bow Trades and Labor Coun-
Gil, together with that of all of the
labor unions in Butte, Montana, as
well as the Montana Federation Of
Labor, as to the price fixing of pota-
toes to the producer, jobber, whole
saler, retailer and consumer, as
stated herein, and he further stated
that organized labor was behind the
whole program.
In addition to the producers of po-
tatoes, the chain stores were repre-
sented, as well as the Independent
merchants, who agreed to the prices
and stated that they wanted to CO.
operate with the farmers. Several
producers of potatoes from the Deer
Lodge Valley we're represented by
Mr.. E. NJ Kelley and stated that
they were in favor of the prices as
shown by the evidence but die not
want to be bound to sell their pota-
toes to any one concern. The mem
bers of the Montana Trade Commits
sion stated that they would not tell
the producers where to sell their
potatoes and that the producers had
the right to sell to Whomever they
pleased.
After the hearing was closed, the
entire matter was taken under ad-
visement by the Montana Trade
Commission
The law provides that any pro-
ducer, jobber, wholesaler or retailer
who sells or buys any agricultural
commodity below the price fixed by
the producer is punishable under the
terms provided in the Act
The Act states that:
Whenever rs per cent of producers
of any agricultural product or com
modify marketing said products OF
commodities within any trade area
district or city shall determine what
is fair price based upon competi-
tive and other factors for their prod
uct or commodity, it shall be deemed
the fair price for such product Oh
commodity under the terms of this
act"
WA CLITNTTmOM (LDN Ao4;o,, "a