50 



TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



traffic equally between the two roads, and therefore those who were 

 Jisted upon the Southern Pacific route could get no relief. I wish to 

 say that the Santa Fe is dominated by the Southern Pacific in much of 

 the territory through which it runs, as is evidenced in many ways. 



FRUIT PACKAGE LABEL LAW. 



MR. JUDD. Mr. Chairman, I have a resolution here on another 

 subject that I would like to introduce. It is as follows: 



Whereas, The label law of the State of California, passed by the Legislature March 

 6, 1903, providing for marking on fruit boxes or packages the name of the vicinity where 

 fruit is grown, is insufficient, as it permits too much latitude and does not give the pub- 

 licity intended by the promoters of said law ; therefore, be it 



Resolved, That said law be amended so as to read after the words " where grown " 

 the words "the name of the packer and his address and where possible the name of the 

 grower." 



MR. JUDD. The reason why I think that this is necessary is from the 

 fact that in our locality, where that law has been enforced, I am an 

 unfortunate inspector, and I find that notwithstanding the fact that 

 the boxes, packages, or sacks are marked with the name " Watsonville, 

 Santa Cruz Co., Cal.," or: "This fruit was grown in Santa Cruz and 

 Monterey Counties," it falls short of the intention of the law. If you 

 put on the grower's name, where practicable or possible, you touch the 

 grower's pride; you place upon him the responsibility of seeing that 

 that fruit shall be in prime condition. You place also upon the packer 

 the responsibility of packing it and putting it on the market in 

 proper condition. That is the reason why I suggest that this amend- 

 ment to that law be recommended by this body. As you understand, 

 there is considerable opposition to the law, and we have a test case 

 coming on where some of the big exporters are fighting it, ostensibly on 

 the alleged ground of its unconstitutionality. If the present law, with 

 this proposed amendment, should' go into effect all over the State, it 

 would increase the markets and increase the number of buyers by the 

 hundreds, simply because they will see on every box, on every package, 

 the name of the packer and perhaps the name of the grower. The 

 purchasers, if they feel so disposed, can deal direct with the packer or 

 grower. When the fruit lands in Liverpool, for instance, and the buyers 

 see that it is a particularly fine brand they will Avrite to the packer or 

 grower for further shipments. It will be an incentive to the packer and 

 to the grower to improve the pack, and it will better the fruit industry 

 all along the line, will make a wider market, induce greater consump- 

 tion, and increase the number of buyers, which we need most of all. 

 Where any individual or firm virtually has the monopoly of any mar- 

 ket, exorbitant rates are charged and only the wealthiest can consume 

 the product. It seems to me that the amendment proposed is essen- 



