Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-12
Farmers Tell Senators
Packers Discriminate;
Want U. S. 70 Control

Unfair discrimination by livestock
exchanges and packing interests in
the marketing OF livestock was
charged by farmers representatives
before the Senate interstate commerce
committee Friday afternoon. They
urged the enactment into law of tho
pending bill giving government con-
troll of stockyards, refrigerator and
stock cars. etc.
c. H. Gustafson. president of the
Nebraska State Farmers Union and
chairman OF the farmers national
committee on packing plants, testified
that the farmers union, doing about
SIS. 100000 worth of livestock business
comparatively was refused member
ship in livestock exchanges at Omaha,
Sioux City and st. Joseph. Mo-, on ae-
count of the unions patronage dfvi-
dend plan of operation. The union,
which also does business with or
ganized farmers of Iowa, South pa
| kota. Kansas and Missouri, now plans
construction of packing plant
which, to succeed, requires enactment
of the pending bin, Mr.. Gustafson
said. to place competition with pack
ing interests on fair basis.
One Criticism of Packers.
The witness had no complaint TO
make of the packers except that they
| tions to put up bond. So long as the
packers control stockyards and
private cars. however. he said 1t
| would be difficult for cooperative
| packing plant to operate without
such facilities.
The Farmers Cooperative Union
plans eventually. said Mr.. Gustsfson.
to extend its business indefinitely.
Then your idea is to eliminate the
packers and establish a monopoly of
your own?" questioned Senator Nc
lean of Connecticut -
Not exactly" replied Mr.. Gustaf-
son, but the farmers are entitled to
follow their product as far as possi-
BILE in the movement to consumers"
The witness explained further that
o cooperative plan among western
farmers aimed to eliminate pronts
middlemen, advertising and other
expenses not absolutely necessary to
marketing.
You wouldn't even have to create
big slush funds to elect candidates..
would your" asked Senator Lewis OF
Illinois.
mo, but it looks as if we would
have to elect candidates to get what
we want" the witness replied.
Dependency on Packers.
Edward l.. Burke of Omaha, Neb..
representing the marketing committee
Of the American National Livestock
Association, testified that livestock
commission men usually are dependent
on the packers for office quarters,
banking facilities and other favere,
and consequently do not defend the
interests of producers adequately, He
said commission men should be regu-
lated by the government Benjamin
C. Marsh, secretary of the Farmers
National Committee on Packing
Plants, said an overwhelming majority
OF farmers in the United States ap-
prove the proposed legislation to pro-
mote government control OF stock
yards and packing plants. and expect
enactment before the adjournment of
this session of Congress March 3.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio said he
thought it had been demonstrated that
both producers and consumers had
cause to complain of the meat situa-
ton, but that Congress in providing
for license of packers and stockyafd
interests should prescribe strictly the
limits of authority of the government
licensing agency.