Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-29
BIC PACKERS CONTROL
EVEN CORNER CR0CERS
Witnesses Tell Investigators How
Meat Industry Governs Butcher
ing, Even to 3y-ProtiuctS.
SQUEEZE OUT SMALL DEALERS
Competition in Rendering business
Stiaed by Giving Short Weight.
Markets Established to Ruin Re-
taiIcrs Who Oppose Trust.
Try Associated rvessJ

BOSTON. December IS. Squeezing Of
small dealers out OF competition by the
alleged grasp OF the big packers upon
the meat. rendering. soap and fcrti-
iiZer industries OF the country was de-
p!cted by witnesses to-day before the
Federal Trade Commission. which has
transferred Its hearings into the meat
industry and It's relation to tho high
cost of living temporarily TO this city.
Francis j. Icncy. special counsel for
the commission. said the packers con-
'rolicd tho rendering business from it,
collection OF butchers waste TO tho
manufacture OF valuable hy-produc;s.
By their n,c:hcds of gaining control OF
meat scraps. fat and bones, he added.
tho commission sought 10 show tina,
The man who bought u steak or roast
paid an unnecessarily high price for
his dinner.
witnesses, engaged in tn rendering
business asserted that the packers
stilcd competition for the collection OF
waste products ny bidding up prices
beyond The reach of the independent
dealer. ny rcSortinE 10 tho scheme OF
EiVinS short weight for refuse. by Civ
ing bonuses 10 retailers. to break con
tracts with competing rendering firms.
by fomcntin: avitatirrs against the
erection OF new competing rendering
firms and by dividing territory among
themselves BY Icatlcmcn's agreements
in rhiCh the trade OF man opening
a now butcher shop was sold 10 the
highest bidder, transactions in which
the butcher had nothing TO say. In
New Enriard. il was testified. render
ing companies which were trust-con-
tro!led maintained fund To pay
bonuses for the trade Of retailers a;
points where independent: rcndcr!n:
companies tried 10 compete
CunNEn-sToRE TRADE
SOUGHT DT PACKERS
Not only The rendering business, Sui
even the cornerstone trade in meats
wa sought .y the packers. witnesses
declared. Large markets were cs;ah-
lished III strategic positions i'll various
large cities where packers named the
price 4; which meats could be sold At
retail. according TO testimony. These
prices were said TO be below that a.
which the SINAI! retailer could sell. As
a result. il was said. the nciGhhorhood
butchers were closing up their shop.
in increasing numbers because
customers We're drawn to the larger
stores.
thus Nj Rcnsy pointed GUY. -.
packers controlled the entire field o.
the couuiry's mea; business. ~ the
Washington hnarin. it was brought
ou;. ne said. that they controlled tho
stockyards and the extensive terminal
facilities in Chicago. Now i; vas
shown. he continued. they also con-
'rollcd tho valuable by-products from
butcher waste and were making bus
mess nearly unbearable for the small
butcher.
Many OF ihc witnesses heard to-day
gave their versions OF being driven
out Of business By what they termed
the trust or OF getting into the COM
b.ac III order 10 live. Two OF the Wit
nesses cr!:vtued the session ~ voicinG
their defiance 10 tie packers.
One independent packer testified that
Il. had been offered s25o,66o for his
plant when Il was not worth more than
$4,000 lie refused the offer. he said,
because he would no; have his bust
ness Rough; away from, him by any
such methods az were employed
4 new ;rist 10 the testimony was
given by w. X. Hutchinson. propr!eto!
o. meat stores in Greater Boston. who
openly charged the packers with giving
short weight for pork. lie said some
retailer, were forced TO pay for pork
strips AZ the weigh; marked on tho
packages. when, rs a matter OF fact.
The per-: was from three TO five pounds
below that weight.
Mr.. Hutchinson was asked by Mr.
'Icae" IL there was any truth in state
nlcn;s attributed 70 the packers that
retailers were sousing the public.
They cant do any Gouging." Mr..
Hutchinson said. "f'our hundred pro-
v!s!ons dealers failed IN Boston las,
!AGgus: Does thu; look as II they were
SouG!uE or being souGed""
The session adjourned late In tho day.
Commissioner Murdoch returned to
Washington Knight, but il was an
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