our attention what I think he said was the unanimous attitude of the Commissioners of Agriculture throughout the country in favor of this legislation. However, his statement which he has left will be made a part of the record at this point. (The statement is as follows:) SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF J. ROY JONES, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA, ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMISSIONERS, SECRETARIES AND DIRECTORS OF AGRICULTURE, AND OTHERS, RESPECTING H. R. 3203 My name is J. Roy Jones. I am commissioner of agriculture for the State of South Carolina. I am here for the purpose of offering testimony in support of H. R. 3203, first, on behalf of the farmers of the State of South Carolina; and, second, as chairman of the transporation committee of the National Association of Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors of Agriculture. Section 3-6 of the 1952 Code of Laws for South Carolina, gives me the right to speak for the farmers of South Carolina. My power to represent the National Association of Commissioners was unanimously endorsed at the national conference held November, 1951, at Biloxi, Miss. The 33d Annual Proceedings of the National Association, Resolution 36, states: "Be it therefore resolved that the transportation committee is hereby directed to represent the association in all instances wherein they conclude such representation is required to protect the interests in transportation matters of agriculture; and, be it further resolved that the chairman of the transportation committee be authorized to delegate this authority to any member of the committee that he may appoint." This same 33d conference specifically discussed the subject matter now before your committee. Resolution No. 35 states: "Therefore, be it resolved by the national commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, in convention assembled this 15th day of November 1951, that we be recorded of our purpose to seek from the Congress a mandate to continue in effect the time-honored practice of trip leasing motor vehicles which carry to the markets a large proportion of the food and fiber produced on our farms." As directed by Chairman Wolverton, a statement has been filed with your committee setting forth my views as commissioner of agriculture for South Carolina, and the reactions of members of the National Association of Commissioners. In this brief summary, I will speak first on behalf of South Carolina. As commissioner of agriculture, I am chairman of the State Marketing Commission, therefore, I have opportunity to be familiar with our markets and the transportation of farm products. Our largest farm market is located at Columbia, S. C., and each month last year this market handled over a million dollars worth of farm produce. A large percentage of the produce was moved by exempt carriers. In conferring with producers, processors, and carriers from this maket, I am told that they favor trip leasing. In talking with yearround and seasonal haulers of farm products from other markets in the State, they tell me that without trip leasing the tariff will be based on empty returns. South Carolina has inaugurated an extensive "farm to market" road system. This is true in every other State and altogether they constitute a tremendous system of arteries for intrastate and interstate commerce. Over 90 percent of South Carolina's farm produce moves over these highways by trucks, bound for local and terminal markets. These trucks return with produce from other areas of the Nation. South Carolina producers and motor carriers want to distribute these farm products at a reasonable cost to the customer. They also want to buy at a reasonable price. Excessive transportation costs will punish either the farmer or his customer. Restricted trip leasing of motor carriers will indirectly mean increased transportation costs. South Carolina producers ask that you pass legislation to protect orderly and equitable farm-marketing programs. As chairman of the transportation committee of the National Association of Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture, let me say that if the pending legislation is enacted into law, the action will be in keeping with the position taken by the National Commissioners as far back as in 1951. For some years prior to the Motor Carrier Act of 1935, leasing of crop-carrying vehicles had become a recognized practice in the economical marketing of farm products. Restrictions against trip leasing will result in economic waste of proportions so great as to constitute a staggering blow to our modern, efficient, economic process of marketing. Restrictions against trip leasing will mean that the common carrier can no longer purchase transportation which has heretofore been available. Certified common carriers now purchase millions of dollars of such transportation annually, at a cost-per-loaded mile materially less than if using their own equipment. This saving goes to the farmer and the consumer. Certified common-carrier trucks, in their primary function of transporting valuable manufactured good, do not go down into the fields, groves, or orchards. The rural branch lines of railroads which have been removed from the rights-ofway will not be rebuilt. Many of these were contributed by farmers. Unless H. R. 3203 is adopted a superior service will be giving way to an inferior one, which is unfortunate and unjustified. For 40 years the farmers of this Nation rode on plank or mud roads and paid gasoline taxes to provide good highways for their city brothers. Every State in the Nation is promoting rural highways to facilitate the traffic in raw products from our fields, mines, and streams. Realizing that agriculture is the basis of our economy, State and Federal agencies are stressing marketing programs. Farmers are buying trucks and the taxes from gasoline used in them are paying their way. Our client, the farmer, is energetic and resourceful in production of agricultural commodities, but he needs a friend in Congress when he is threatened with an increase in distribution costs. It is of paramount importance to keep all distribution costs between the farmer and the markets on the lowest possible level. Restricted trip leasing will not only raise transportation costs, it will result in staggering waste and curtailed distribution. Without doubt, products of secondary grade which are now profitably marketed in bulk would never leave the farm. Gentlemen, as commissioner of agriculture for South Carolina, I ask on behalf of our producers and our marketing interests that you report H. R. 3203 favorably. As chairman of the transportation committee of the National Association of Commissioners, Secretaries, and Director of Agriculture, our group is bitterly opposed to restrictions on trip leasing of motor carriers transporting agricultural products. We favor passage of H. R. 3203. We earnestly request that you report this legislation favorably and exert every effort to have it enacted into law by the Congress. This bill will bring relief to our producer and his consumer, and save them from confusion and mental anguish which they have suffered the past few years. I am attaching hereto a copy of the statement which was filed with this committee on April 15, 1953, also copies of telegrams received relative to H. R. 3203. Please accept my thanks for giving me this opportunity to appear here and give you a summary of our position as set forth in my statement. Hon. CHARLES A. WOLVERTON, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, H. R. 3203 is to be considered by your committee within the near future. On behalf of agriculture interests of the State of Alabama, I desire to state that this legislation has our wholehearted support and we wish to endorse the statement in support of this legislation made to your committee by the chairman of transportation committee, National Association of Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors of Agriculture. Trip leasing of vehicles to carriers has greatly benefited the farmers of this State and we feel that this practice should be allowed to continue without interference from the Interstate Commerce Commission. FRANK M. STEWART, Commissioner, State Department of Agriculture and Industries, APRIL 6, 1953. Hon. CHARLES WOLVERTON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: I heartily endorse statement to be presented to your committee in behalf of H. R. 3203 by J. Roy Jones, chairman, transportation committee, National Association of Commissioners of Agriculture. PAUL H. MILLER, Chief Inspector, Arkansas State Plant Board. TALLAHASSEE, FLA.,April 7, 1953. Hon. CHARLES WOLVERTON, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Respectfully urge enactment of H. R. 3203. Hon. J. Roy Jones will present orally the views of southern commissioners of agricluture on this important subject. More than one-half of Florida's fruits and vegetables are transported to market by exempt truck, and discontinuance of trip leasing would have a serious impact on the industry. NATHAN MAYO, Commissioner of Agriculture of Florida. Hon. CHARLES WOLVERTON, BATON ROUGE, La., April 6, 1953. House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, We are grateful to you for introducing H. R. 3203. We trust that you and your committee will give careful consideration to the statements that will be submitted by our transportation committee from the National Association of Commissioners of Agriculture. If this amendment is passed, it will give us the authority to fully utilize the transportation facilities we have at hand in moving farm produce to markets at a reasonable transportation cost. DAVE L. PEARCE, Commissioner, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Immigration. APRIL 9, 1953. J. ROY JONES, Commissioner of Agriculture, Columbia, S. C.: In the interest of agriculture I am in favor of the statement to be made by the transportation committee April 22 on trip leasing. You have my endorsement on the statement. BEN S. ADAMS, Commissioner of Agriculture, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Frankfort, Ky. APRIL 8, 1953. Mr. CHARLES A. WOLVERTON, Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, We endorse H. R. 3203 and concur 100 percent in testimony of J. Roy Jones, chairman transportation committee of our association. Urge support of H. R. 3203. This leasing of trucks important to food producers, handlers, and consumers alike. STILLMAN J. STANARD, Director, Illinois State Department of Agriculture, Springfield, Ill. APRIL 9, 1953. Congressman CHARLES WOLVERTON, Congress of the United States, Washington, D. C.: Transportation costs for moving farm products points of production to points of consumption must be held at a minimum. Likewise lowest possible costs of moving supplies to agricultural areas must be maintained. H. R. 3203 helpful. Urge its passage and will support statement of J. Roy Jones, commissioner of agriculture of South Carolina. DON MCDOWELL, Director, Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture. APRIL 7, 1953. Hon. J. ROY JONES, Commissioner of Agriculture, Wade Hampton Office Building, Post Office Box 1080, Columbia, S. C. DEAR COMMISSIONER JONES: I have sent a telegram to Mr. Charles Wolverton, chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, as follows: "Urge support of H. R. 3203. Farmers and consumers both need this protection." If I can be of further assistance, do not hesitate to advise me. This matter is important and needs the prompt attention of all parties concerned. Yours very truly, FRED J. NUTTER, Commissioner. APRIL 8, 1953. Mr. J. Roy JONES, Commissioner of Agriculture, Post Office Box 1080, Columbia, S. C. DEAR ROY: In the meantime, as time is very short when you need this answer, I am going to give you power of attorney to make a statement for the Nevada Department of Agriculture before the committee. Veruy truly yours, GEORGE G. SCHWEIS, Director, Division of Plant Industry. APRIL 8, 1953. Mr. CHARLES WOLVERTON, Chairman, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: The Virginia Department of Agriculture endorses and supports H. R. 3203 We believe the enactment of this bill is essential to efficient and economical functioning of our modern marketing process. The curtailment or abolishment of the practice of trip leasing would hamper and curtail distribution, resulting in decreased production and consumption and increased transportation rates and costs. We believe H. R. 3203 is essential to the best interest of Virginia agriculture. PARKE C. BRINKLEY, Commissioner. Hon. CHARLES WOLVERTON, United States House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: I concur in views and testimony to be given before your committee by J. Roy Jones pertaining to H. R. 3203. Important to agriculture that this bill pass. MATH DAHL, Commissioner of Agriculture. APRIL 8, 1953. Mr. CHARLES A. WOLVERTON, Chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: We ask that you do all you can to pass H. R. 3203 and S. 925. It is very important to agriculture. UTAH STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, APRIL 9, 1953. Mr. CHARLES A. WOLVERTON, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Endorse statement for National Association of Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture Transportation Committee as presented by J. Roy Jones, chairman. Cause of agriculture and transportation of its products will be served by the passage of H. R. 3203. MYRON W. CLARK, Commissioner, Minnesota State Department of Agriculture, Dairy and Food. Hon. CHARLES WOLVERTON, APRIL 10, 1953. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: After giving careful consideration to the statement prepared for presentation to your committee regarding H. R. 3203 by Hon. J. Roy Jones, chairman, Transportation Committee, National Association of Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture, I want your committee to know that it has my unqualified endorsement and that I urge your favorable consideration of this significant statement. D. Y. BALLENTINE. Chairman CHARLES A. WOLVERTON, House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, APRIL 9, 1953. Washington, D. C.: The loss of trip leasing will seriously handicap Tennessee in the marketing of agricultural products. With increased production and declining prices, additional costs would throw prohibitive burden on agriculture. We urgently support H. R. 3203. Mr. CHARLES WOLVERTON, BUFORD ELLINGTON, Commissioner of Agriculture. APRIL 14, 1953. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, At a meeting April 8 in Boston, Mass., the Northeastern Association of Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture instructed me as secretary of the group to inform your committee of their support for H. R. 3203 allowing flexible use of motor carriers and compensation for their use. This is similar to action taken by the national association in Seattle, Wash., 1952. PERLEY I. FITTS, Secretary, Northeastern Association of Commissioners, Secretaries, and APRIL 10, 1953. The Honorable CHARLES WOLVERTON, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. WOLVERTON: As a member of the National Association of Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture, I am much interested in the bill which you introduced on February 18, 1953, being H. R. 3203. |