The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-25
LEGISLATION TO
COMBAT RISE IN
PRICES PLANNED
Anderson Bill Introduced in
House Limits Control of
Packers Over Food.
BY WILLIAM r. sANsoRN.

efs. Inc Dill was introduced In the
house by Representative Kenyon. Of
Iowa, on Monday.
Numerous suggestions have been
made by the Federal Trade commits
sion to the same purpose, and these
were adopted In part by the trainers
Of the bill, but by no means as
whole. We understand that the bill
makes no attempt to control distri-
button. With reference to the reasons
for and the purposes Of the bill,
Chicago Tribune correspondent at
Washington quotes Representative
Anderson as saying:
This bill is grounded upon the
theory that the business of the pack
ers is so large, so inter-related with
unrelated food products business, and
its expansion in and control over all
lines Of food products SO menacing
and so inimical to the interests of
both producers and consumers as to
make essential governme control OF
the industry"
Purposes of the Bill.
We have said that the bill does not
attempt to control distribution. and
by this we mean not directly or spe-
officially" But we Judge that the IL
cense issued will be for buying, sell
ing or doing certain things, in certain
lines, and only in the lines specified
in said license. This would seem to
be the pith of the whole matter. One
of the aims of the bill is to accom-
plish divesture of the packers in
terests in the stockyards." There can
be no doubt whatever that the broad
efficiency of the great stockyards is
almost entirely the result of the pack
ers' efforts to build up an organiZa-
ton which Is almost frictionless, and
which comes pretty close to being
automatic in action. That the packers
should be large stockholders in such
yards and terminals is the most nat
ural thing in the world. because, they.
as individuals are the most vitality
interested.
With reference to this fact Mr.. Ar
mour stated before a committee in
congress that so far as Armour & Com
pany are concerned they would not
object to selling all such stock they
owned; providing they could have the
assurance of equally good service. 1t
would release a lot Of money, he said,
which could be probably used in their
Industry.
The second notable feature of the
bill, according to Representative An
derson, is: ITO establish control and
to place limitation upon the packers
interest in and control over industries,
such as production and distribution of
rice, breakfast foods, canned products
other than meats, and the wholesale
and retail merchandising Of these and
other products unrelated to the pack
ing industry; to place the refrigerator
ord ofbar cnaaioll1r on11innnd rars for
perishable products on a common car.
rier basis; to establish permissive
storage and market system which will
enable the small packer or other deal
er in food products to compete with
the branch houses operated by the
packers"
A Pretty Large Order
This brief paragraph includes a
pretty large order, which the whole
sale grocers, coffee roasters and In
dependent Gamers will be happy to
see filled. Just what the fate of the
bill may ultimately be, or what the
amendments that are likely to be of
fered in debate, there is no telling
But there can be no question OF the
bill being supported by large CONNER
cial interests, and that the packers
will rally in opposition can scarcely be
questioned.
The licenses are to be issued by the
secretary of agriculture to (a) persons
or corporations engaged in the slaugh
tering or meat packing business; CD
persons or corporations conducting
and operating stockyards; (c) stock
yards commission merchants; (d) per
sons collecting or distributing live
stock market news and quotations
lei persons buying, selling or shipping
poultry of poultry products. also dairy
products, In commerce. AS to SUB
division "E" persons of firms whose
gross business is less than So0O,O0'
uer year will be exempt. This strike:
directly at the great packers and tnt
cold storage men In their control OF
employ, who handle poultry, eggs
butter and cheese, and is most vita
provision.
The bill, which is quite voluminous
prohibits packers from INDUCING II
unfair. unjustly discriminatory or de
centiye device in commerce; the sci
ling to any other licensee any part o
his business for the purpose OF appor
tioning the supply, or unreasonabl,
affecting the price" Nor must n
conspire with any other licensee TO
the purpose of limiting or preventing
competition.
Strenuous Fight Probable
We anticipate long and interesting
fight on this bill. If it finally emerge
from the committee room. which !
probably will. At a large meeting o
grocery distributors, principally re
tailers, held in an interior New Yorl
town a few weeks ago, there was tall
of a boycott against packers VIII
might become interested in "chail
stores, 1t being broadly 1ndmated tina
some of them are already so interest
ed. This, however. is vigorously dc
MED. 1t would seem. too, that tn
packers have plenty Of wholesale busi
ness to occupy their time and capita
fully without dabbling in retail distri
button.
Representative Anderson's bill
shows the trend of public thought an,
feeling. The terrific cost OF necessi