The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1919-02-19
Mr.. L. F. Swift Comments
On MIR. Hoover's Let
ter Concerning Pack
ing Industry
Willing to Abide by Decision of
Public When All Facts Are
Known

Mr.. L. F. Swift, President of Swift
& Company, made the following COM
ments with regard to Mr.. Hoover's
letter to the President on the pack
ing industry:
81 am naturally greatly interested
in Mr.. Hoover's letter to the Pres
ident, which was written last Septem-
Der, and welcome it as an honest ex-
preston of opinion about the pack
;ng-house situation. / am only sorry
that Mr.. Hoover had not had oppor-
tunity to avail himeslf of the infor-
nation brought out at the recent
Congressional hearings in Washing
ton. .,,-.s
The principal issus seems to be
whether or not there is a monopoly
and believe it was clearly demon
strated at these hearings that the
large packers are in active compe-
tition with each other. There are alb
solutely. no agreements among the
five largest packers to control pric-
es, and they together handle less
than forty per cent of the meat sup
ply of the country. The largest COM
pany handles only about twelve per
cent of the total meat supply and less
than twenty-five per cent of even the
output of houses that are under U S.
Inspection.
There are about two hundred and
seventy packing concerns, besides
those operated by the five largest,
that are under Federal Inspection,
and hundreds Of local houses that are
not subject to inspection. All large
cities have packing houses that ccm-
pete directly with the five largest.
Some of their representatives appear
ed at the hearings in Washington and
stated that they were prospecting, and
that there was fair and open COM
petition in the industry.
have publicly stated that we have
no serious objection to being reliev-
ed of our interest in refrigerator
cars and stock yards. But we have
pointed out that it is decidedly ques-
tionab1e whether any efficiency or
benefit can be gained by such pro.
cedure. We would also call at.en
ton to the fact that during the recent
hearings, no evils, needing correc-
ton have been brought to light in
connection with packer ownership of
these facilities.
I ou-e agree with Mr.. Hoover
fiat there is no reason for the Gov
eminent to take over the branch
houses of the packers, but I do not
feel that sufficient consideration has
been given to the question of hand
ling other productions than meats.
Swift & Company handles only a few
such products, and they are distinct
ly related to our business, either as
by-products of the packing houses, or
as goods which can be economically
handled through our extensive dis
tributing organization.
I hardly think that the Government
should assume authority to dictate
what products any business concern
may or may not handle There is not
only no need for such a step in con-
nection with the packing business, but
it would act as dangerous precedent
which might be extended to all other
industries.
It is little difficult for me to re-
concile Mr.. Hoover's criticism of the
fact that the large packers have elm
mated middlemen and gone direct to
the retailers with the general opinion
that marketing should be as direct as
possible from producer to consumer.
I think it will be conceded that if we
have eliminated unnecessary middle
men this has been to the advantage
Of the public at large.