Arizona republican., 1917-03-08
INVESTIGATION OF LIVESTOCK
 INDUSTRY URGED BID. 3. HEARD

 our own people.
 improvement in Marketing Conditions
 TOT a number of years the American National Live Stock Association. through it's committees. has been thor oughly studying this big livestock problem in the hope of work ing out definite plans for constructive improvement. At our national conven- ton at Fl Paso in January, 1916, this question of an improvement in market ing conditions was the most vital one before the convention. and the follow ing quotations are taken from reso- lution unanimously adopted by the con- vention:
 We also find that regardless of the great losses sustained last year by those who fed cattle and hogs. the packing companies made the largest profits in their history, and while the foot and mouth disease was a great catastrophe to those who fed and marketed fat cattle and hogs, the result to the pack CTS seems to have been the opposite.
 We recommend the appointment of a committee of five wno shall have the power and be authorized to investigate the present market situation and ascer- tain definitely what can be done in the matter. Said committee to be author
 
 that is available. and empowered to in- vestigate the desirability of seeking re- lief rom our situation through govern mental agencies.
 Your committee further recommends that as much information as possible { be secured, from government sources or otherwise. as to the margins between the prices paid for cattle on the hoof and the prices paid at the large cities . and ether places for dressed beef: this ] investigation tO cover q period of seN- eral years to the end that the producer may know when he is receiving a low price for his stock. whether the meats and all byproducts have been reduced in price according to the consumer We believe that, when this question is cor rectly presented to the public we shall have the entire cooperation and sympa- thy Of the consumers.
 As rhe then executive officer of the association. l appointed as our market ! committee Mr. Henry A Jastro. of Cal ifornia, probably one of the best posted men on livestock conditions in this country: Mir. l.. l.. Burke. . well known feeder of Nebraska: Mir. A. F. de Riccies of Colorado who had given many wears of careful study to this | marketing question: Governor J. B.
  elect from that state: and Mir. Isaac T Pryor. of Texas. who has recently sue ceeded me as president of our National Association.
 A guarantee fund of s54. .9G0 was raised within twenty minutes to provide for the necessary expense Of the work involved. and during the past year these , gentlemen have been Investigating this marketing subject with the greatest i thoroughness. and while their work has i been thorough. it has been absolutely free from malice. openly conducted. al- ways constructive and never destruc- ! tive. The stocEmcn 0f the country have no objection 10 big business be- cause it is big. and We want ;o ,oasc II very clfar that in :he invcstiea io~ o+ livestock marketing and the li,r-stoc's industry which we propose if r1 i no Is of change can be suggested in t,le p~o- ducing branch of the business which will add to the public welfare. We shall De as ready tO put such changes into effect as we are ready to demand chances on ti:e part of the packing in- terests in their methods.
 Our market committee secured as their counsel Hon. Walter L. Fisher. former secretary Of the interior. and the results of their careful work during the past year have convinced the com niftee and it's counsel that. the onlx way to get to the bottom of this whole question and evolve constructive rem edies which will add 10 the welfare not only of the livestock producer and feeder. but of the consumer of meat products. is to have this question in- yestigated through some federal tri- hural with complete authority. empow- cred to subpoena witnesses, take testi- monv under oath. examine books, and so forth. that all the facts as to this vital national problem may be obtained.
 Asking Government Cooperation
 As q result of their investigations our market committee reported at our re- cent convention in Cheyenne Wyom- ing, held on January IS. 19 and 2G. that they felt that the department of agri- culture. through it's office of markets. working in cooperation with the fed eral trades commission. was the proper agency to conduct this investigation. and on the recommendation of our com mittee the convention unanimously passed the following resolution:
 Resolved. by the American National Live Stock Association. in convention assembled at Cheyenne. Wyoming. Jan nary 1S-20. 1917. that the congress of the United States is respectfully. bul earnestly. requested and urged to eli- aet at once appropriate legislation siv- ing to the department of agriculture adequate means and authority to secure complete and reliable information. lm- der the safeguards and sanction of law and conscience. with respect to the i'm. pOrtant matters committed t1 it's charge. go that the department of agri culture may have the sanfe power as is now possessed by the Federal Trades Commission with respect to the matters -'.'fe" lfs irrisdicfion. and all 10 the end