96 ANNUAL REPORT 



wholesale swindling, A. lengthy discussion followed which re- 

 sulted (with little opposition from members) in the appointment 

 of a legislative committee, and the preparation and passage of 

 the present law, which was carefully preptred and passed upon 

 by the attorney general and judiciary committees of the legisla- 

 ture. If there has been any injustice done to honest uurs-^ry- 

 men, it was not intentional. Had the nurserymen of the country 

 in their conventions, condemned the actions of the tree dealers 

 and agents, instead of condemning and threatening our law, they 

 would have merited much more of our confidence. If it is their 

 intention to persistently defy and violate the law we now have, 

 we warn them to halt, ere the fate befalls them which, it is re- 

 ported, has overtaken a man who took fifty or sixty thousand 

 wild orange trees to California, and is now in durance vile. The 

 temper of the people is in no condition to be trifled with. Had 

 justice been done to some of the tree dealers and agents who 

 came into this state, they too would have been behind prison 

 bars. 



As our society is partly supi^orted by taxes collected from the 

 people of the state without regard to occupation, it is therefore 

 our duty to manage it for the benefit of all and not for a few tree 

 growers or sellers. 



A word to the nurserymen. The men in other occupations 

 who become successful do so by being honorable and upright in 

 their business and if we follow this course people will soon learn 

 who to deal with, and we will have a clear conscience and carry 

 as much filthy lucre to the grave as those who do otherwise. 



It has been said that a man can not send out of the state for a 

 few Jessie strawberry plants for his customers without violating 

 the law. This may seem rather hard and may be wrong, still 

 observation has convinced me that few of those who buy new 

 kinds of strawberry plants at two dollars per dozen and new 

 grape vines at two dollars each ever make them live or get any 

 profit from them. 



In conclusion, fellow members, let us treat this subject care- 

 fully and with ajust regard for the interests of all our citizens. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Barrett. Mr. President, I would like to inquire in your 

 judgment whether there should be any effort made in the pre- 

 sent legislature to repeal the law to which the writer alluded 



