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→Schwegmann as public service litigant
Schwegmann's next fight was against the state's fair-trade law, which permitted manufacturers to set retail prices for an entire area by entering into a contract with just one retailer in that region. The crusade was successful in the U.S. District Court, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, and the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. While the Supreme Court did not technically strike down the law, it held that merchants could not be forced to charge certain prices. "The next move was to get the state's fair-trade law thrown out", Stone said. "It was. A second law was passed, but the state Supreme Court threw it out in 1965."
Schwegmann's next fight was against the state's fair-trade law, which permitted manufacturers to set retail prices for an entire area by entering into a contract with just one retailer in that region. The crusade was successful in the U.S. District Court, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, and the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. While the Supreme Court did not technically strike down the law, it held that merchants could not be forced to charge certain prices. "The next move was to get the state's fair-trade law thrown out", Stone said. "It was. A second law was passed, but the state Supreme Court threw it out in 1965."
In 1965, state Revenue Collector [[Ashton J. Mouton]], a former [[mayor]] of [[Lafayette]], sued Schwegmann Brothers to collect for the state sales, use and occupational license taxes plus interest in the amount of $62,517.98. Schwegmann appealed the assessments to the Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals. Ten years later, the tax board ruled in Mouton's favor, some five years after he had left the collector's position. Thereafter, the state sued to collect another $103,290.59. Schwegmann answered and denied liability. The two cases were consolidated in the trial court by consent of the parties. In the trial, Mouton was upheld in both cases.
In 1965, state Revenue Collector Ashton J. Mouton (1916-1988), a former [[mayor]] of [[Lafayette]], sued Schwegmann Brothers to collect for the state sales, use and occupational license taxes plus interest in the amount of $62,517.98. Schwegmann appealed the assessments to the Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals. Ten years later, the tax board ruled in Mouton's favor, some five years after he had left the collector's position. Thereafter, the state sued to collect another $103,290.59. Schwegmann answered and denied liability. The two cases were consolidated in the trial court by consent of the parties. In the trial, Mouton was upheld in both cases.
==The fight against milk price-fixing==
Perhaps Schwegmann's best-remembered fight was his battle against milk price-fixing. It pitted him against, first, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dave L. Pearce and, later, the state Milk Commission, which could set milk prices at the processing and retail levels, said Michael R. Fontham, another Schwegmann attorney.
Perhaps Schwegmann's best-remembered fight was his battle against milk price-fixing. It pitted him against, first, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dave L. Pearce and, later, the state Milk Commission, which could set milk prices at the processing and retail levels, said Michael R. Fontham, another Schwegmann attorney.
Such battles were "altruistic. … He favored unrestricted, free competition. It's principle, nothing personal with it. He had nothing to gain at all," explained Schwegmann's attorney Saul Stone.
Such battles were "altruistic. … He favored unrestricted, free competition. It's principle, nothing personal with it. He had nothing to gain at all," explained Schwegmann's attorney Saul Stone.
==Legislative career==
==Legislative career==
Schwegmann's political career actually began as early as 1955, when he lost a primary for a Jefferson Parish seat in the state Senate. After an unsuccessful campaign in 1959 for the Jefferson Parish presidency (an administrative position equivalent to a county commission chairmanship), he won a seat in the state House of Representatives in 1961. In 1968, he was elected to the state Senate, and in 1974, he was elected to the Public Service Commission, which was at the time expanded from three to five members, chosen by districts.
Schwegmann's political career actually began as early as 1955, when he lost a primary for a Jefferson Parish seat in the state Senate. After an unsuccessful campaign in 1959 for the Jefferson Parish presidency (an administrative position equivalent to a county commission chairmanship), he won a seat in the state House of Representatives in 1961. In 1968, he was elected to the state Senate, and in 1974, he was elected to the Public Service Commission, which was at the time expanded from three to five members, chosen by districts.