The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-08-15
GOVERNMENT no CONTROL
MEAT PACKING INDUSTRY


A recent dispatch from Washington
states that government acquisition
and control Of all the principal stoel
yards, cold storage plants and ware.
houses, and both refrigerator and cat
tie cars, has been recommended "a
the president BY the federal trade
commission to destroy monopoly
which it declares Swift & Co.. Ar
mour & Co., Morris & Co., Wilson &
Co., incorporated, and the Cudahy
Packing Co. exercise not only over
the meat industry of the country,
but other necessary food supplies.
The commissions report is based
upon exhaustive hearings conducted
recently in many cities and was made
public through the White House. 1t
had been in the hands of the presi-
dent since July 5, and it was ex-
planned that it had not previously
been issued because the president
wished first to be in possession Of
full information.
Basing its statement upon great
volume Of evidence examined, much
of it taken from the confidential files
of the packing companies, the commits
sion said the power Of the five pack
ing companies ''has been and is be-
ing unfairly and illegally used" to
manipulate livestock markets; re-
strict interstate and international
supplies of food; control the prices of
dressed meats and other foods; de-
fraud both the producers of food and
crush effective COMPETE
ton; secure special privileges from
railroads, stockyard companies and
municipalities, and profiteer.
"We have found" said the COM
report to the president, "and
will disclose to you an intricate fabric
Of 'monopolies, controls. combinations,
conspiracies and restraints, which
would seem to indicate a similarly
complete and minute system of leg
islative or administrative remedies,
we believe that an adequate remedy
may be more simply arrived at.
eve believe that if the fundament-
al and underlying evils are rooted
out the whole structure Of conspiracy,
control and restraint must fall.
IF these five great concerns owned
no packing plants and killed no cat
tie and still retained control of the
of transportation, of mar
keting and Of storage, their position
would be no less strong than it is.
The commission then recommended;
Il. That the government acquire,
through the railroad administration,
al rolling stock used for transporta-
ion of meat animals and that such
ownership be declared a government
monopoly.
y. That the government acquire,
through the railroad administration,
The principal !and necessary stock
yards Of the country, to be treated
is freight depots and to be operated
lnder such conditions as will insure
'pen,. competitive markets, with uni
orm scale OF charges f for al g Il services
and the acquisition or es-
ablishment of such additional yards
rom time to time as the future devel-
pment of livestock production in the
United States may require. This to
include customary adiuncts Of stock
ards
20. That the government acquire,
through the railroad administration,
n privately owned refrigerator cars
nd all necessary equipment for their
roper operation and that such own
rship be declared a government mon
poly.
"a That the federal government
cquire such Of the branch houses,
old storage plants and warehouses
$ are necessary te provide facilities (
Or the competitive marketing and ]
forage of food products in the prin-
pal centers of distribution and con-
lmption. The same to be operated
Y the government as public mar /
cts and storage places under such
onditions as will afford an outlet for 1
and handlers Of food I
roducts on equal terms. Supple !
Ienting the. marketing and storage 4
ABILITIES thus acquired, the federal {
overnment establish, through the |
abroad administration, at the ter a
finals of all principal points Of dis j
'ibution and consumption, central {
holesale markets and storage plants
18th facilities open to all upon pay !
.ent Of just and fair charges" K
ANDERBILT TO HAVE A