CHAP. 391.—An. ACT to establish a division of markets for agricultural
products within the department of agriculture and immigration, pro-
viding for the administration of the said division and defining the
duties and powers of same. (S. B. 373.)

Approved March 20, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
for the purpose of promoting the economical handling, packing,
storage, distribution and sale of agricultural products in this
Commonwealth, and for the further purpose of assisting pro-
ducers and consumers in selling and purchasing agricultural pro-
ducts at a fair and reasonable price; there is hereby established
within the department of agriculture and immigration a divi-
sion of markets for agricultural products, which shall be admin-
istered under the supervision of the commissioner of agriculture
and immigration by a director who shall be qualified for the
performance of his duties by training and experience.

The board of agriculture and immigration, by and with the
consent of the commissioner, shall appoint the director and such
assistants as may be needed, and the board shall fix their com-
pensation.

2. In the administration of the said division, the said direc-
tor shall exercise and discharge the following powers and duties,
under the supervision of the commissioner of agriculture and
immigration:

(a) He shall investigate the cost of food production and
marketing in all its phases, and in particular shall investigate
the market demand for the products of Virginia farms, the rela-
tive location of producers with reference to the most profitable
markets for their products, the transportation facilities, the most
advantageous methods of packing, storing and standardizing
agricultural products and any defects in the method of pro-
duction, packing, storage and standardizing of these products
which may have lowered the value of the same in the markets
of the county. He shall further make investigations with a
view to ascertaining whether or not the agricultural products
of this State are being subjected to unfair competition in the
markets of Virginia and of the country at large, by the agricul-
tural products or manufactured substitutes therefor produced in
other States or imported from foreign countries.

(b) The said director may assist in the organization ot
co-operative societies among producers and consumers for the
purpose of promoting and conserving the interest of producers
of agricultural products in the sale and distribution of same and
in the purchase of their necessary supplies, and for the purpose
of reducing the cost of living to consumers.

(e) The said director is hereby authorized to make and
establish rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes of
this act, such rules and regulations to become effective when
approved by the commissioner and board of agriculture and im-
migration.

3. The division of markets shall gather and disseminate in-
formation on all subjects relating to the marketing and distr-
bution of Virginia agricultural products, and by correspondence
and publication, or by any other practicable means, shall en-
deavor to keep producers and consumers informed of the de.
mand and supply and at what markets the various agricultura!
products can be best handled or procured. The division shall
publish periodical bulletins selling forth the current market
prices for Virginia agricultural products in the principal mar-
kets of the State and in other markets accessible for the dispo-
sition of such products, and, when deemed advisable, giving in-
formation as to the available supplies of agricultural products
and as to the demand in the several markets for such products.
The division may also prepare from time to time bulletins as tc
the most efficient and economical methods of standardization,
storage, packing, transportation and marketing of agricultural
products, and cause the same to be distributed in such manner
as the commissioner may determine. The division shall in-
vestigate the sources of supply of agricultural products and pre-
pare and publish lists of the names and addresses of producers
and consignors and supply the same to person applying therefor.

4, The said division of markets shall investigate delays, im-
proper conditions, overcharges and unfair rates in the trans-
portation of agricultural products, and may cause proceedings
to be instituted in the proper courts for the abatement or re-
dress of such injuries; and, when deemed advisable, may cause
to be instituted proper proceedings to prevent restraint of trade
or unlawful combinations to fix prices. When notified by pro-
ducers that agricultural products produced in the State cannot
be sold or will have to be sacrificed for lack of a ready mar-
ket, it shall investigate such case, and make such suggestions to
the producers as may seem advisable, and in addition may as-
sist the said producers in any practicable manner in finding a
satisfactory market for the products in question.

5. In carrying out the provisions of this act, the said divi-
sion shall endeavor to secure the co-operation and assistance of
the office of markets of the United States department of agri-
culture. It shall thoroughly investigate the methods that may be
suggested by the said office for the promotion of economical and
efficient marketing of agricultural products together with sta-
tistical information applicable to the marketing of Virginia
agricultural products, and, when it may seem advisable and not
inconsistent with the requirements of this act or of any other
law of this Commonwealth, it shall endeavor to secure the adop-
tion in this State of any methods of marketing which may be
suggested by the said office of markets of the United States de-
partment of agriculture.

6. On or before the first day of January, nineteen hundred
and seventeen, the commissioner of agriculture and immigration
shall make a report to the governor covering the period from
the date on which this act becomes effective through the thirtieth
day of September, nineteen hundred and sixteen, and on or be-
fore the first day of January of each year thereafter he shal!
make a report to the governor, covering the twelve months end-
ing September thirtieth, next preceding. ‘Such reports shall
summarize the work done by the division of markets during the
period covered, and shall include any comments on the results
of the work or statement of the results of any particular investi-
gations which may seem proper. Every such annual report shall
also include a complete accounting of all moneys received or ex-
pended by the said division in carrying out the provisions of this
act for the period covered by the report. In addition to the in-
formation required above, the reports made on or before the first
day of January immediately preceding a regular session of the
legislature shall include a detailed budget of the financial require-

ments of the said division for the ensuing two years, with such

Se nendaKions as to additional legislation as may be expe-
lent.

7. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act,
the sum of five thousand dollars is hereby appropriated for the
fiscal year ending February twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and
seventeen, and in like manner for each fiscal year thereafter,
there is hereby appropriated the sum of five thousand dollars.
The expenses incident to carrying out the provisions of this act,
shall be paid by the treasurer of the State out of the appropria-
tion to credit of the commissioner of agriculture and immigra-
tion upon warrants drawn upon the auditor of public accounts
by the said commissioner, countersigned by the president of the
board of agriculture and immigration.