Speech #710027562

It was stated. however. the State Department was tural commodities in interstate and foreign commerce. so that attempting to arrange a conference with the Canadian customs the industry of agriculture will be placed on a basis of economic service for an agreement on a treaty making customslaw viola- equality with other industries. and to that end to protect. contions extraditable. trol. and stabilize the currents of interstate and foreign comThe indictments handed in without comment and received merce in the marketing of agricultural commodities and their in silence by Judge Adler specifically charged that the firms food productsand individuals conspired to violate the tariff act of 1892 and "(1) by minimizing speculation. section 88 of the national prohibition law. "(2) by preventing inefficient and wasteful methods of disThis section relates to conspiracy and carries a term of im- tribution. prisonment to those found guilty under its provisions. "(3) by encouraging the organization of producers into effecFor weeks the jury had been receiving evidence presented by tive associations or corporations under their own control for United States Attorney Richard H. Templeton. The evidence greater unity of effort in marketing and by promoting the estabwas based on reports submitted by a large number of special lishment and financing of a farm marketing system of producerinvestigators who came to Buffalo last summer. when certain owned and producercontrolled cooperative associations and other customs and immigration men were caught dealing in freight- agencies. car seals and participating in a conspiracy to pass liquorladen "(4) by aiding in preventing and controlling surpluses in any cars into this country from Canada. agricultural commodity. through orderly production and distribuForemost among those indicted was Harry C. Hatch. ril- tion. so as to maintain advantageous domestic markets and prelionaire chairman of the board of Gooderham & Worts (Ltd.). vent such surpluses from causing undue and excessive fluctuaof Toronto. and the Hiram Walker Co.. of Windsor. Both com- tions or depressions in prices for the commodity. panies were recently merged to create the largest distilling "(b) There shall be considered as a surplus for the purposes organization in the world. and they are named in the indict- of this act any seasonal or years total surplus. produced in the ments.