work that there would have been had he been present. As a result, while the general report was a socalled unanimous one of the Committee on Postoffice Affairs, yet immediately upon the presentation of the report and its reading, Mr. James D. Fearnley, of Philadelphia, a member of the Committee, who is also Secretary of the National Harware Ass'n., got up on the floor to say that while in the interest of harmony he had signed the report, yet he wanted it distinctly understood that he still favored the resolution introduced by the National Hardware Association; that is, the resolution offered on the minutes, which was that in the interests of the small country merchants throughout the country the National Hardware Association were unanimously and thoroughly opposed to the establishment of any parcels post in America. Then he went on to enlarge on how the establishment of the great mail order houses interfered with the trade that naturally belonged to the cross-roads or village store. He talked for quite a while. Several of us were very anxious to get up and answer him. He was answered briefly by another gentleman from Philadelphia. So that before the Chair would recognize me, out of courtesy a man from the far West was given a hearing, who talked for perhaps fifteen minutes. He claimed that a parcels post was absolutely impossible under American conditions, could not be run without great loss to the government. Eventually I secured the floor. I made the point that Mr. James Fearnly and the other speaker in expressing sympathy for the small country dealer and the local merchant in small towns, claiming that they should be protected and that great mail order houses should not be built up in every city, were talking as if the great mail order houses would be the work of the parcels post; whereas as a matter of fact we all know that the great mail order houses exist to-day, and that they have been built up in spite of and not because of special postal facilities. The rate of postage on such shipments by mail, as I brought out prominently there, is sixteen cents per pound on merchandise, and only eight cents per pound on seeds, bulbs, etc.; and that the great mail order houses of Chicago, Pittsburg and Baltimore some twelve years ago when they were approached by a few of us seedsmen who were trying to get the postage reduced on that matter would not co-operate with us, and a few of us alone secured the reduction on our own goods from sixteen to eight cents

per pound; that these mail order houses had been built up till now two houses in Chicago alone have built up a business of from fifty to seventy millions a year; that a so-called "mail order" house did not necessarily have to ship its goods. out by mail, but that the orders came by mail: that they sent out no circulars to solicit trade, and shipped their commodities by express or freight, whichever was the cheapest; that a reduction in postage did not therefore affect them to anything like the extent it did the seedsmen and others like them; that we ought to have a parcels post such as other civilized countries enjoy, and that such would not be in the interest of those mail order houses referred to by Mr. Fearnley.

It would be just as much in the interest of the small country merchant who has his main stock forwarded by freight, but when he wants special orders filled he is now at the mercy of the express companies. I further contended that the statement that a parcels post would work a loss on the postoffice department revenues. was not true; that eight cents we pay on seeds now, one-half the merchandise rate, was profitable to the carrier, because all the express companies will take any package of seeds and send it from the Atlantic seaboard to San Francisco, or Los Angeles. or Portland, Oregon, if prepaid at eight cents per poundtaking the longest possible haul, and that the majority of shipments are for short hauls.

I

Well, gentlemen, after this discussion we passed the resolution recommended by the Committee, which was favorable to a parcels post whenever it could be established without entailing extra expense upon the government. have an idea that it will be a long time before that day comes, because the express companies and the railway companies maintain such powerful lobbies in Congress; and of course they will kick against any reduction of the remuneration which they receive for carrying the mails, which are now very excessive.

I think, however, that it is very well worth while paying $25.00 a year subscription to membership in the National Board of Trade, although I do not know as we have had the value of it this year; but I was present at Washington at the past meeting, and you can count on Mr. McCullough being there next year, and you will have a much better talk from him, and I am sure you will get your value of $25.00. It is his turn next year.

President Grenell: We will next listen to the report of the joint committee that met with the Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists, of which Mr. C. N. Page is Chairman.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO CONFER WITH

COMMITTEE FROM AMERICAN ASSOCIA-
TION OF NURSERYMEN AND OF SOCIETY OF
AMERICAN FLORISTS.

The committee appointed by President Grenell met on August 16th and 17th in Washington, D.C. with a similar committee from the American Association of Nurserymen and from the Society of American Florists and after considerable discussion, it was decided to co-operate on the following subjects and such other matters of mutual interest as may be brought up for action or consideration from time to time.

Ist. Unite in striving to secure legislation which shall be favorable to one or more of the allied associations of Seedsmen, Nurserymen and Florists.

2d. Work for the defeat of legislation which would prove unfavorable to either association.

3d. Try and secure favorable rulings in the Custom House regarding imports of seeds, plants, bulbs, trees and horticultural merchandise and supplies.

4th. Should Congress revise present tariff classification and import duties, to strive to ascertain what changes, if any, are desired by the trade at large and work for their adoption.

5th. Secure as favorable classification and rates as are possible on all classes of freight and express matter.

6th. To strive to do away with the Government Seed Distribution by Congressmen.

7th. To secure the Postal rate of $8.00 per 100 lbs on catalogues, printed paper and all third class mail matter in packages. weighing 2 oz. each or inore, without affixing stamps.

8th. To secure a convenient Parcels Post system, both domestic and foreign.

9th. We deprecate the giving of commissions to gardeners or others who have charge of making purchases for public institutions, or large private buyers, and believe that some plan should be devised to do away with this practice.

The following resolution was adopted:

RESOLVED: That it is the sense of this meeting, that each association should as far as possible appoint each year the chairman of the three committees which are most concerned in subjects of mutual interest, as members of this joint committee.

It is understood that any member of any of the three associations may bring before this committee at any time. during the year, subjects which are of interest to the trade and in case of proposed unfavorable legislation, either state or national, the united influence of the three associations shall be set actively at work to defeat it.

During the past year we have prevented the introduction of one very unfavorable bill which was being prepared for the Iowa Legislature, to which our attention was directed by a Nebraska seedsman, and have also caused to be sent to members of Congress many letters protesting against the bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Dec. 6, 1905, by Mr. Hopkins (H. R. 4480) which makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by heavy fines, or imprisonment to sell any mixed, adulterated or misbranded seeds.

Mr. F. R. Pierson, who represents the Florists Society on this joint committee, is also a seed dealer, and he has proved to be a very efficient chairman of the committee, understanding well the needs of each association.

It is understood that the duty of this committee is mainly in being prepared to act in case of emergency and co-operate in striving to better trade conditions for our mutual benefit.

Respectfully submitted,

Chas. N. Page, Secretary,
Joint Committee.

Washington, D. C., Aug. 16, 1905.

It having seemed desirable that the three leading associations representing the Seed, Nursery and Florist interests of the country co-operate in various ways together, a joint committee met to-day at the New Willard Hotel, consisting of the following persons: Harlan P. Kelsey, of Boston, Mass., and T. B. Mehan of Germantown, Pa., appointed by the American Association of Nurserymen; F. W. Bolgiano, of Washington, D. C.; and Chas. N. Page of Des Moines, Iowa, appointed by the American Seed Trade Association.

F. R. Pierson of Tarrytown, N. Y. and J. A. Valentine of Denver, Col., appointed by the Society of American Florists and Ornamental Horticulturists.

The following persons were also duly accredited as members of this joint committee:

C. L. Watrous of Des Moines, Iowa, from the Nurserymen's Association.

George S. Green of Chicago, from the Seed Trade Association, and Benj. Hammond of Fishkill on Hudson, N. Y. from the Florists, but they were not present.

On motion the committee was organized by electing F. R. Pierson, Chairman, and Chas. N. Page, Secretary.

'After considerable discussion, it was decided to co-operate on the subjects previously stated and such other matters of mutual interest as may be brought up for action or consideration from time to time.

On motion the Secretary was instructed to purchase a record book in which to keep the records of each meeting. A letter was read from W. H. Grenell, President of the American Seed Trade Association, and also letters from Geo. S. Green and C. L. Watrous.

It was moved that a special committee, composed of one member from each organization, be appointed by the chairman to consider the subject of graft or commissions paid to the agents of buyers-Carried-and the chair appointed Messrs. Kelsey, Hammond and Page.

On motion a committee consisting of Messrs. Page, Pierson and Watrous was appointed on Postal Legislation.

The following resolution was presented:

Resolved: that it is the sense of this meeting that each association should, as far as possible, appoint each year the chairman of the three committees which are most concerned in subjects of mutual interests as members of this joint committee.

After about three hours spent in discussing the above and other subjects thought to be of mutual interest, the meeting was duly adjourned to meet again at the close of the tomorrow morning's meeting of the Society of American Florists. Chas. N. Page,

Secretary.

Aug. 17, 1905.

Committee met as per adjournment with Messrs. Pierson, Kelsey, Valentine, Mehan, Hammond and Page present. Minutes of previous meeting were read and approved.