El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-11

THERE Is good in the reports from Philadelphia
where the federal trade commission has been con-
Quoting part Of its investigation into the meat in
dusy that the government is preparing TO take over the
whole industry, packing plants and all so as to complete
control Of three big economic factors in warmefuel
transportation and food Unfortunately the report lacks
fuH confirmation.
Communicating the packing plants would be the great
est step IN taking over the meat industry for it has been
shown fairly eOneusvely that the packers control the
whole meat business from the time the steer leaves the
range and the hog leaves the farm until the meat reaches
the butcher shop Sometimes the control does not stop
even there for testimony offered, when the commits
sion was holding its hearing in Boston that the packers
are Of many large meat stores throughout
the east general denial by J. Ogden Armour that the
packers have squeezed the public charged does not
seem to cover the specific points of ths testimony brought
out before the federal trade commission.
Even the little butcher shops under the indirect con
troll Of the packers for the price they must fix On their
meat is determined largely BY what the packers compel
them today Only those who independent
who buy cattle hogs and sheep and butcher their
and they under the packers Influence,
for they must at times do business with the PACKERS and
thus must not offend
Ask FL Paso eattemen what they think Of the pros
pecve government operation Of the meat industry They
almost certain 70 give II their approval tor years
southwestern stocmen have been complaining that the
packers monopoIzng and throttIng the meat bust
TO the deen both Of the livestock growers and OF
the CONSUMERS.
The American National Livestock association In its
1915 meeting IN FL Paso adopted report Of the committee
on marketing which dealt with the familiar theme-famiiar
because discussed by nearly every catemens association
meeting years. After referring to conditions IN
the livestock industry with respect 70 marketing te
port recommended congressional investigation Of the
packing business. It seemed there must be something
wrong when growers held down to the minimum In
prices for their stock and when consumers were charged
tremendous prices constantly going higher. There was
feeling that the blame could not rest upon the retailers
competing with each other for business
The investigation has been held not by congressional
committee but by the federal trade commission and all
that the stockmen have commended and much be-
sides has brought out in testimony given under the
guidance Of the commissions special counsel, Francis J.
Heney. The effect Of this testimony Is to make It appear
that the packers not only operate their mammoth con-
Germs but also control the sockyards the terminal Ta
roads the yards many rendering plants remote from
the packing plants and many meat stores.
All this be accepted unreServedly fact, for It
must remembered that the packers themselves have not
been heard They have been given opportunity to
explain the conditions which the witnesses before the trade
commission declared TO exist. Nevertheless, the testimony
as given and the declaration Of catemen and others at
various times and places may be taken by the public fol
what they worth and judgments formed subject 70
subsequent alteration if the packers disProye the anega
tons
What is to be gained by government operation Of the
meat industry? Only actual experience answer that
question with exacness but proponents Of the plan be-