Omaha daily bee., 1916-04-06
BURKE SPEAKS FOR
PACKING INQUIRY
Omaha Man Discusses Rapid Con-
centration OF Industry in the
Hands Of a Few Men.
WHY PRODUCERS ARE ALARMED

~ ~ fefFf FfFHhh " wv
reeentatlyes Of the meat packers, IN
,9stigatlon Of whose industry by the
federal government is demanded by
live stock producers. particularly as
10 alleged price-flxlng, presented
tfcir side Of the case 10 the house
judiciary subcommittee today.
Among those on hand ready 10 tes-
tlfy was Arthur Meeke-. vice prcsi-
cent Of Armour 4 Go.
One Of the speakers for the reso-
luton today was Edward l.. Burke
of Omaha, representing tho market
committee Of the American National
Live Stock association.
~rhe rapid concentration - iha
aanghter and distribution of msst am
mails In this country and South Anerra
into the hands of lew men" he said, ~
tho feature whicn most disturbs the pro-
ducer and which he feois needs the most
careful investigation
"a simple statement 81 the facts v
sufficient feas Than twenty years aso
the working capital or The leading con
ceru, Swift A. Co. was little over 1le,'
0O0.OU lta earnings trifle over N,0c0oo
and the volume Of basinesg about tho'.
000,00 II has gradually increased nntii
now The working capital Is approximately
si20. .O00.CO0. the cafningr for 1919 were over
100000 nnd the volume OF business
over t500.0O0,M0 Armour 60 have ~
panded nj almost ihc saine rate, while
the lhree smaller concerns have emulated
the example Of Tho leaders, although
on much smaller scale
"our association representing thou
sands or producera feels that thera
exists opportunity and necessity for
ncarchinR inquiry snd the application
Of n remedy 10 the end that both the
producer and the packer may receive
reasonable return and the public may
have continues and steady supply o.
meat products at reasonable prices.
WASHINGTON, April 5-iIow i've |
stock producers are losing more man
q. $4,000 year through natural shrink
nge IN cattle and an untold amount
through alleged stiflcd competition, due
to the packers postponing the buying |
hour IN the yards from 10 II O'Clock IN |
the morning was described by Edward l..
Burke OF Omaha today 10 the house SUB.
committee considering tho Bortland reso-
luton 10 Investigate the packers for Ylo- I
Iation OF the antl-trust laws. Mr.. Burke |
the American National Llyo
5tock association.
The average steer will lose from flf-
teen to twenty pounds during tho thfee
hours he In forced to stand ~, the yards
IA a result Of the change IN settling time
Mr. Burke estimated and he pointed out
hat ns the closing time for scales re-
NAMED nj D. IN. as formerly. producers
must aell hnrrledly, once the buying starts
~ hold their stock until the following
lay.
Because of the short selling time. ~
was declared. lt IL not unusual for rails
ers 10 be compelled 10 hold their stock
until the following day and then be
forced into low market,
Arthur Meekcr. vice president Of Ar
mour e. Co, Interrupted 10 say that he
sOul1 explain INC fhuhe OF tns ppktppntT
nent Of the buying hour. One reason,
he said. was the federal inspectors were
delay by examining every steer
'or foot and mouth disease Burke rc- ,
lponded that such examinations were I
1ot being made now.
Az Burke explained the situation the !
.tock IL in the pens and for sale before (
o'clock During the next three hours a 9
ew Independent buyers appear. but the
'uyers for tho large packing companies q
10 not begin bidding until II o'clock
rhcn they appear simultaneously. he de-
Jared and during the next hour the {
major part OF the bidding takes place
The plan for advocates OF the reaou-
lon 10 close their arguments today and =
or me packers representatives TO open 9
D opposition was abandoned when other
BUSINESS before the subcommittee inter-
cred The hearing was postponed indefl-
itely, but probably viii be resumed this
aeok