Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-09-06
BrickbatS and Bouquets HurI-
ed at Trade Commission for
Favoring Government Con-
troll Of Meat Industry.
ATTACK ON REPORT LED
BY SHERMAN AND SM00T
They Brand the Body as a Self
Constituted Prosecuting
Agency Gore and Kenyon
Defend Investigators.
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Washington, Sept 5.-The federal
trade commission was sharply assail-
ed and vigorously defended in the
senate today for its recent report =
President Wilson recommending that
the government take over control of
the packing industry so us to break
mp what 1t termed a monopoly of the
meat business in this and other coun-
tries, and to prevent alleged profitter-
ing.
The debate. in which Senators
Sheraman of Illinois and Smoot OF
Utah led the attack on the commits
sion. was precipitated by Introduction
by Senator Gore OF oklahoma of an
amendment to the emergency agri-
cultural appropriation bali carrying
out in the main the commissions
recommendations. The amendment
later was withdrawn when II was ap-
parent that consideration of Il would
further delay passage of the bill
Senator sherman declared the
commission to be self-constituted
prosecuting agency made up Of
business failures.' while Senator
Smoot of Utah charged that the con.-
mission from the beginning has been
used as stepping stone" to cam
paign for office.
Gore and Kenyon Defend.
Senators Gore and Kenyon defend
cd the report, declaring 1t largely
justified, the latter saying II received
the endorsement of thousands OF per-
sons Hwho have been robbed by the
packers all these years"
Senator sherman declared If the
members Of the commission desired
to know what the people thought of
them they had only to offer them
selves for office and would be beaten
by vote of four to one, lie referred
to members Of the commission as
"self-appointed business men who
have done nothing in their lives but
criticize men who are doing things
and said Chairman Colver was the
most vociferous and blatant one IN
| the lot"
There are none." Senator Sherman
continued, 'who Isn't a radical.
lbolsheyist, an economic firebrand.
They're younger brothers Of the
II. w. Wall of them. They're poor
excuses for public officers. They're
q disgrace to the administration.
They're a menace to business. They're
a discredit to the country"
Ashurst Takes a Hand.
Senator Ashurst of Arizona, inter-
rupted to say that there was nothing
in the record OF the men to JUSTIFY
Senator Sherman's introducing them
in such a violent way that the COM
mission could not reply and that Il
was unfair thus to use the senate's
rules for freedom of speech. Senator
sherman replied that he regretted he
nag a
itations from saying what he desired,
hut that he would make the same
statements outside OF the senate.
Senator Ashurst suggested that
senator sherman might have prevent
ed confirmation of members OF the
commission by the senate The tlli-
nos senator replied the minority
lacked power to prevent confirma-
tions. :
'It is useless to talk about rights OF
the minority in this administration,
he continued. What rights have we?
Simply to our seats. What rights
has congress? It's largely instructed
what to do.
wilson Won't stand Still.
"Stand by the president! How can
we when he can't stand still on any
question long enough TO tell what t
isl"
Referring again to the trade COM
| hissloners. Senator Sherman shouted
in conclusion:
They ought to resign
Senator Thomas said he wanted TO
offer his testimony to the integrity,
honesty and uprightness of the mem
bers of the commission with whom
! he was acquainted He said Com
missioner Murdock has been a puri-
flying element in political life and
| also praised j. Franklin Fort, an
| cher member OF the commission.
He said he did not know Chairman
! Colyer.
Senator Thomas explained that 10
| defending the members of the COM
| mission it should not be inferred
| that he approved the recommends
tlons as he opposed the government
taking over the packing or any other
industry during the war, unless 1t was
| shown to be absolutely necessary.
/ Senator Johnson of California said
! he endorsed Senator Thomas attitude
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