Norwich bulletin., 1917-12-29

Boston. Dec. 2s-Squeezins of small dealers out of competition by the a1- legged grasp of the big packers upon the meat, rendering, soap and fertilizer industries of the country was depicted by witnesses today before the federal trade commission. which has trans ferred its hearings into the meat tn- dusry and its relation to the high cost of living temporarily to this city.
 Francis J. Heney, special counsel for the commission, said the packers controlled the rendering business from it's collection of butchers waste to the manufacture of valuable by-products. By their methods of gaining control of meat scraps, fat and bones, he added, the commission sought to show that the man who bought steak or c roast paid an unnecessarily high price for his dinner.
 PaeB<srs Stif7ed Composition.
 Witnesses engaged in the rendering business asserted that the packers gtified competition for the collection of waste products by bidding up prices beyond the reach of the independent dealer, by resortfng to the scheme of giving short weight for refuse, by giving bonuses to retailers to break firms, by fomenttng aeftations against the erection of new competing render ing plants and by dividing territory among themselves by gent1emen's aRL6E1I61LS man opening a new butcher shop was sold to the highest bidder, transzc- tions in which the butcher had norh- ing to say. In New England. it was testified, rendering companies which were trust-contro1led maintained a, fund 10 pay bonuses for tfe trade of retailers at points where independent rendering companies tried to compete.
 Named Meat Prices.
 Not only the rendering business but even the corner store trade in meats was sought by the packers, witnesses declared Large markets were estab- lished in strategic positions in various large cities. where packers named the price at which meats could be sold at retail according to testimony. These prices were said to be below that at which the small retailer could sell. As a result it was said the neighborhood butchers were closing up their shops in ever-increasing numbers because customers were drawn to the larger stores Witnesses named the Mohican company, which has a chain of stores throughout New England, as a specific instance of this kind
 Controlled Entire Meat Business.
 Thus, Mir Heney pointed out, the packers controlled the entire field of Washington hearing it was brought out. he said, that they controlled the stock yards and the extensive terminal facilities in Chicago Now it was controlled the valuable by-products from butcher waste and were making business nearly unbearable for the small butcher.
 Many of the witnesses heard today gave their versions of being driven the trust" or of getting into the combine in order to live. Two of the witnesses, however, enlivened the de- tails concerning greases and bones by CTS.
 Defied Meat Trust.
 John Glennie of North Andover a man of the rugged type stated that he had refused an offer of $250. 900 for his plant which, according to his own estimate, was worth not more than S35,000. This offer was made, he said, when the trust" tried to put him out of business They resorted first to the usual methods. he said of bidding up prices for war materials, by hiring away his men and by Teasing" away his customers by the bonus system
 Finally" he said, "a representa- tive of the combine came to me and said very sympathetically he was sorgy, but if I persisted in being stubborn. it would be necessary to put me out of the business. much as the big con- bine hated to do it."
 Ana you perSlSLeQ MT. Heney asked
 T went into their own territory after their business" Glennie replied. Even at the price they boosted up, I was able to make a living. I did much of the work myself and knew what my men were doing. I didn't have the heavy overhead expenses of the com bine"
 NO expensive attorneys, for i'm stance2' smiled MT. Heney.
 Not much.'' answered the witness.
 But do you mean to say" inter posed Commissioner Victor H. Mur- dock who presided. that you refused the difference between $35, 900 and $250.0 900 for the sake of a fight ?'
 Would Fight if Necessary.
 -1 pFzs out tc earn living" said Glen rIiS. --AnG if 1T is necessary to fight for it I'll fight I built up my business with my own hands and I won't have it bought away from me by any such methods as that What get I'll earn and I won't live on easy money"
 G1ennie said he was willing to forego pr0fffs during the war, as a method Of "dofng his bit"
 I'm wiling" he said. ito pay the butcher 50 much for his waste mate