The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-08
Trade Commission Proposes
Plan to President.
Would Turn Distribution of
Meats Over to McAdOO.
STOP STOCK YARD CONTROL
Would Seize Branch Houses
and Refrigerator Cars.
Includes Side Sweep at Cali
fOrnia Gamers Trust.

Washington, Aug. S.-Moving to
break the power Of the so-cailed
packers trust" the federal trade COM
mission has recommended to President
Wilson that the railroad administra-
ton be given a monopoly in the trans
portation and distribution of meats.
The report of the commission made
public by President Wilson today.
urges that the far reaching packer in
fluence on American business can be
emasculated by transferring from the
packers to the railroad administration
the following:
All stockyards in the country; all So
called branch houses of the packers
used in the distribution of meats; all
stock cars and refrigerator cars now
| owned by the packers and all icing
| plants located along the railroads
lthruout the country.
Leave Packers Nothing But Packing.
This would leave the packers the
| lone business of slaughtering and
skinning. Thru control of the trans
| port3 ton, branch houses, storage
| houses and warehouses of the pack
ers, the railroad administration would
break the alleged priorities the
| packers trust grants its MEM
bers now in all phases of the business.
Incidentally the control OF refrigera-
! tor cars constitute side swipe at the
| California Gamers trust"
The feteral trade commission in its
report to the p1 1esident-made at his
| written request last year-leaves il up
| to congress to pass the necessary leg
islation which will enable the railroad
| administration to take over the pack
ers' facilities.
Trust Absolutely Controls Market.
The commission charges in its re-
port that the five great packing con-
Germs of the country-Swift, Armour,
| Morris, Cudahy and Wiison-"haye
fattained such a dominant position
that they control at will the market
in which they buy their supplies. the
market in which they sell their prod
ucts. and hold the fortunes Of their
competitors in their hands"
To break this power, the commits
sion chose what is regarded as a sim
pie and non-spectacular remedy. It
holds that since cattle cars are nee
essary part of the equipment of a
| railroad, such cars should be under
federal ownership and operation and
available to all alike.
1t holds that stock yard is moth
ing more than a depot for cattle the
same as passenger or freight depot
Tor people and therefore should be a
part of the railroad facilities subject
to the use of all alike
Cars n Powerful Weapon.
Declaring that the ownership by the
five great packing interests of refrig-
orator cars furnishes one of the most
powerful means Of control, manipula-
tions and restraint" the commission
recommends that these cars be taken
over by the railroad administration
Branch houses. cold storage houses
and warehouses are now provided by
common carriers for various sorts of
freight except meat and perisha bles-
and therefore the packers warehouses
should locally come under railroa &
operation, the commission says.
| Having acquired these facilities the
railroad administration could then es-
tablish at the terminals of all principal
points of distribution and consump-
ton, central wholesale markets and
storage plants with facilities open to
ALL
Adequate and Simple Solution.
The commission believes that its
suggested remedies strike so deeply
at the root of the tree of monopoly
that they constitute an adequate and
simple solution" of the problem.
In answer to the presidents in
quiry the commission says its investi-
cation of the packers shows un-
ittraA d..