The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-19
Murdock Says They May Be
Already Beyond Control Of
Government.
THE BIG FIVE WERE
STRONGER THAN HOOVER
Member Of Federal Commission
Gives Testimony Before Inter
state Commerce Committee Of
House.

Washington, Feb. 14.-Victor Muir
dock, member Of the federal trade
commission, told the house interstate
commerce committee today that he
feared the five big packers had ac-
CURED SO much power that even the
Cn;ted States government might not
be strong enough to combat It.
Even Food Administrator Hoover
Mr.. Murdcck said, could not reach
into Chicago and take the license c1
a great n1alefactor, although he could
rescind the license of one of the Ht-
tie fellows"
This testimony Of the trade co:11-
missioner followed his statement that
facts gathered during the commis-
SONS investigation of The meat pack
ing industry had been turned over TO-
the department. of justice and that
he had no doubt that proceedings
under the antitrust law would sc-
suit.
Mr.. Murdock expressed fear that
the legislative branch of the govern
ment would deal weakly instead OF
vigorously with the packers. Ills
statement that the packers were Well
| aware wIere there would be vacan-
cies on the senate ah3 house COM
| mites which would consider their
case and that they would try to see.
to it that their friends" got on these
committees as vacancies occurred
| brought shap questioning from men,
bers of the committee. Mr.. MUIR
dock said he did not mean that any
| improper means would be used and
that he did rot in any way mean to.
infer that there had been 'stufhngS
or padding" of committees in the II!
past"
''B1t I do say" the witness con-
/ tinued, "that even while we hereyares
discussing things that have happened
in the past, the big interests Of tAe
country are thinking in terms Of the
future. They are always well ahead
of US. And you can depend upon 1t
that they are doing it now"
Commissioner Murdock strongly
urged enactment Of legislation before
the committee for government con-
troll ana regulation Of the meat In
dustry. Replying to questions OF
committee members, he said it was
entirely possible that if the meat in
dustry were made subject to legisla-
ton such as that proposed every 9TH
or business might be made subject to
SIMILAR legislation.
The committee closed its hearing
with the examination of Mr.. Mur-
dock. who devoted considerable time
to discussion Of the socalled inter-
national meat pool, which was sharp
" criticised in the commissions re-
port to the president last summer.
The packers" he said, have come
before this committee to testify, but
where they did not evade entirely the
subject Of the international meat
pool. they answered erroneously This
IS 9 combination of American packers
which hes for one Of it's purposes.
anicng other things. the allotment of
space for meat shipments from South
America to the United States, as well
10 TO France.
'"They say that the restrictions and
appcrtionment Of space was sanction
ed by the British government IN whose
ships the meats from South America
was carried They have said that the
British government as a war measure
to insure the feeding Of civilian popu-
lations abroad and the armies Of the
allies arranged the percentage these
packers We're to have cargo space.
However, it is a fact that a meeting
was held in Chicago at which these
Very percentages were agreed upon
by the representatives Of the packers
and that meeting took place two
Years before The outbreak Of war IN
Europe
''All This in itself offers proof of
the charge made by the federal trade