Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-27
Swift Co. Representative Charge
1t is al Unjustified
Assault.
SAYS NO BUSINESS
MAN AMONG PROBERS


Washington. Aug. 26.-Reports of
the federal trade commission on the
five large packers and their alleged
control Of the industry are "absoIu-
tely useless as basis for passing
legislation,' l.. ID. Weld, representa-
tive Of Swift and company, assured
the senate agriculture committee to-
day Summing up his two day ar
gument against federal regulation
of the industry as proposed IN the
Kenyon and Kendlick bills, he chal-
lenged the truth Of the commissions
findings in a half dozen particulars,
and ended by assailing the commits
sion itself.
Don't you resent having this sort
Of evidence put before you?" he ask
ed the committee members. "Do you
think you ought to allow a govern
ment bureau to make this unjustified
assault on useful and necessary in
dustry?"
Mr. Weld said he had demonstra-
ted before the committee that the
| five packers, far from controlling 25
percent of the wholesale grocery
business, did less than 3 percent of
it; that they did not control prices
| either for livestock or meats; that
| their profits were as moderate II not
! lower than the profits of any other
| industry; and that in numberleSs de-
tails as to capital investment, ope-
rations in England livestock pools
the commission, and especially com
missioner W. B. Colver, who open
ed the hearings had dealt in mis-
statements, representations, in
situation and inaccuracies"
Not Business Men.
"What possible motive can a pub
lie body have for doing this sort OF
thing you say the commission has
done ?" Senator Harrison, democrat
Mississippi asked. =.
81 prefer not to go into personals
ties Mr. Weld replied" but theo-
ries of members of the commission or
economic subjects are not what
call sound. There isn't business
man on the commission. Principally
they are newspaper men,
Several other opponents OF the re
gulation legislation were heard dur
ing the day and the federal trade
commission made public report re
commencing that operation of refrl
gerator cars and of cars used in mea
transportation, be declared gov
eminent monopoly.
"Unless we can be assured Of NOR
efficient and economical government
tai control than was the case will
the railroads, telegraph, and tele
. phone companies, neither the produ
GER nor consumer can hope to benefl
from such legilation," Everett {
Brown, president of the Nationa
Live Stock Exchange, which is com
posed of stockyards brokers, told tn
senate agricultural committee.
Advertising Great.
Mr.. Weld incidentally told the com
S mittee that Swift and company, spen
:. S1,50O,0OO on advertising last veal
? and intended to keep up their effort
1 in that line in an endeavor to "edu
cate the public and eliminate the ur
i lust prejudice against the packers.
:. When Senator Harrison asked If tina
sort of expenditure would not rails
the price of meats, he said, that
only amounted to fifteen one-hur
/. dredth of one percent of sales, an
y that is would justify itself by addin
= to the ease of operation.
Ownership of stock yards, NJ
Weld said, in discussing pon
stressed in the trade commission r
port. was not particularly importal
/ to the packers eff we can get Il
u yards run as efficiently" He fix'
:. the proportion of the leather bus
. ness of the country controlled by tt
packers at less than As percent al
said that Swift and company, was e
gagged in divesting itself of it's ia
II merry holdings, by organizing sepa
ate corporation.
ltN n