The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-14
SEES HIGHER PRICES
LATER ON LIVESTOCK
Editor Says GIL Considered
Efforts of Administra-
ton Caused Drop.
RAIsERs OPPOSE CONTROL
Senate Committee Gets Con-
flicting Views on Issue Of
Regulating Packers.

WASHINGTON, Sept 1.-THE widest
possible divergence OF views on the
advisability Of Federal regulation OF the
packing industry was expressed to-day
before the Senate Agricultural Com
mittee.
!. B. Pryor of San Antonio, Tex. a
former president of the American Live
Stock Association, said his organization
accepted full responsibility for starting
the agitation against the ''big 1--WE"
packers, and that Il had spent 81, 900
in three years campaigning to get the
Federal Trade Commission to investi-
gate.
Power has been concentrating itself
for decades In the hands of the big
packers" he said, "and these bills are
now proposed to keep open the door Of
competition"
Vernon Campbell, general manager of
the California Cooperative Canneries,
San Jose, took an opposing view.
III you, as producers, do not like the
way the packers do business, do 1t your
SELF" he said. I'VE object to licensing
because we want free and Unrestricted
market ourselves, as producers"
He asserted that the Wholesale and
Retail Grocers' Association was gigan-
tic organization In restraint OF trade"
and that the California fruit growers
were not anxious to have them favored.
Editors Favor Bill.
Henry C. Wallace and c. W. Pugsley,
editors of middle Western farm papers,
irdorsed the Legislation, saying It had
the support of the majority OF stock
In, tt,afr
"You have heard from a very few
representatives of the large number of
small farmers who raise CATTLE" Pugs-
ley told Senator'S, land from many rep
resentatives of the small number of
large producers. These last are largely
dependent upon the large packers for
borrowed M ney which thev use In their
business. Then the packers have used
undue influence to affect the course of
opinion. I know producers who have
been told by bankers that IL the Ken
yon and Kendrick bills are passed there
will be grave danger that money can
not hereafter be loaned on cattle.
I'VE believ the main facts of the
Federal Trade Commission report on
the growing monopoly of the big five,
which is the justification for these bills
have not been Gontroverted. We believe
that tn packers gre using pressure from
position"
Pugsley read letters from farmers to
support this charge.
1--WE believe the main facts of the
has been caused by. the Introduction of
these bills" said he. that Is q sure
sign that something needs to be done.''
The only explanation of price fiue-
tuations like these is manipulation,
Pugsley said, and packers were the
most likely source of the manipulation.
Calls Packers shortsishted.
Wallace said Iowa farmers were for
the regulation. ut has been put up
70 Iowa farmers" said Wallace, that
these bills mean Government control of
packing houses similar to Government
control of railroads. OF course, that is
p sore spot and unless the farmer
knows the facts about the bill he imme-
diately puts himself down against Gov
eminent control
II think the packers are short
sighted in their objections to licenses"