90 ANNUAL EEPORT 



Mr. Thompson. While listening to the remarks, it occurred to me 

 that it would be a good way to test the law by each one seeing that it 

 is rigidly enforced. You will soon find out whether it is constitu- 

 tional or not. Our friend over here says one lawyer told him it 

 wasn't. Lawyers sometimes tell the truth, but to my sad experience 

 I know they won't all the time, so it Avon't always do to believe what 

 they tell you. 



Mr. Pearce. I suppose you consulted one, probably? 



Mr. Thompson. Yes, and I paid him well for it. 



Mr. D^irtt. I call for the question and think we had better dispense 

 with further discussion 



Mr. Underwood. I don't think we want to choke off discussion. 

 That is what we are here for; it is one of the things that concerns us, 

 and I say let the discussion go on. I have come here to learn something 

 about this matter as well as the rest of you. I don't know whether the 

 law has proven to be any damage or detriment to anyone or not. I have 

 not thought much about that, as 1 have been steadily pegging away. Of 

 course I wouldn't like to say that I would continue to support a law 

 that ought to be amended; and when the proper time couies, to amend 

 it would be all right. Now, we had our committee of this Society get 

 up this law and frame the bill, and I have no doubt it was done under 

 the best of counsel and advice; and we don't want to be like children 

 about this thing. It is all right to discuss it and to be sure that we 

 are right. I don't care anything about these eastern nurserymen if 

 they do squeal about it in their conventions. They may think they 

 have the right to come in here and repudiate it if they want to, as be- 

 ing unconstitutional; but they will never do any such thing, because 

 they have plenty of men and can put. their agents in the field, and will 

 do so if they want to. Personally I don't think I would have had any 

 such law — just personally — just consulting my own personal relations. 

 I know this : that there is that cousin of mine who knows we are in the 

 nursery business, and that all he has to do is to let us know what se- 

 lection of stock is wanted, that when an agent comes along he will 

 pay $3 for a worthless plant that would never grow anyway if set 

 out. But what is the use, you might legislate till doomsday and you 

 never would break that cousin of mine; he would still continue to pay 

 the $3 for nothing. You must educate the people if you want to get 

 them to avoid these frauds; but if you can protect theoi by law of 

 course it is all right. 



Mr. Dartt. If there are any real objections to the law it will be 

 time enough to have them presented another winter, and then to have 

 the law amended. 



