Evening star., 1918-08-09
CAN SE|zEPACK|NG
PLANTS, IS VIEW
Senator Curtis Declares Food
Control Act Gives Presi-
dent Power.
PACKERS. DENY MONOPOLY

+sfhs report of the Federal Trade Com
mission. Recommending that the foys.
'efhn6ehf tsss 'ovsf the packing andesz
Try was the subject today Of consider
able comment among members OF Con-
gress in Washington.
The opinion was expressed by Senator
Curtis Of Kansas that the President
has authority to take over the plants
OF the country and all the other ap-
purtenances of the industry under the
food control actF for the period Of the
war. But for the government to acquire
permanent ownership additional legtsia-
ton would be necessary In his opinion.
Senator Smoot Of Utah, while ne mas
not examined the report. expressed the
opinion that further legislation viii be
Necessary In any event before the Presi-
dent could take control OF the packing
industry. He said he thought. however.
that it would cost the American people
the packing industry than to leave 1t In
the hands Of the packers.
Packers Deny Monopoly.
CHICAGO. August al. Ogden Ar
mour. explaining that brief examina-
tion of the report Of the Federal Trade
Commission upon tho packing industry
has given no opportunity Of preparation
for q formal answer. which can be done
only after the full report is before us"
issued a statement covering 'a few
points which should be answered in the
interest of information to the general
public. z He said: .-
.Tt is recommended that immediate
stems be taken to give the government a
monopoly over such portion Of their
business as will restore competition
This completely ignores the fact that
since November !, 1917, the packing
business has been under the control OF
the government through the agency of
the United States Food Administration.
oven since that time the severest COM
petition has existed. the same as in the
past, except in 80 far as the government
has deemed it necessary that the pack
quantit: of supblies necessary for the
maintenance of our armed forces and
those Of our allies. Twill take up in
their order the detailed recommends
tions:
seplies to Recommendations.
Irst. That the government acquire
all rolling stock used for the transpor-
tation Of meat animals; all cattle and
livest. * cars in the country today are
under tho control, direction and opera
ton Of the United States Railroad Ad-
ministration.
Second. That the government yac-
quire, through the railroad adminis-
tration. the principal and necessary
stockyards OF the country. The gov
kets, Department of Agriculture. as
surned the direction. regulation and
control of all these stockyards on
July Is last under the proclamation
of President Wilson,
Third. That the government ac-
Qutre, through the railroad adminis-
tfation. all privately owned refrigera-
tor cars. The control and operation OF
such cars was submitted to the rail-
road administration, and IT is my un-
derstanding. that upon the recon-
mendation Of the United States Food
Administration 1t was decided best to
leave these cars in the control of the
packers to enable them more efficiently
and reliably to insure prompt delivery
of the necessary amounts Of meats at
NIL government requirements.
Fourth. That the federal govern
ment acquire such OF the branch cold
storage plants and warehouses as are
necessary to provide facilities for
competitive marketing. The facili-
under the control OF the government,
through the United States Food Ad-
ministration, as above referred to.
eat the outset Of the war made the
statement that the government could
have Armour & Co.. every eInploye of
contribute to the successful conduct
and the winning of the war. The
statement. made then. reiterate to-
day q thousand times more emphatI-
cally."
son & Co.. said:
since the Reorganization of this
- 1fsonfinstad an G1c{nd .. = / -