Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-26
.sAYs.KENYON BILL WOULD
SEND FOOD PRICES HIGHER
Manager OF Swift's Commercial Re-
search Department Criticizcs
Proposed Law.
DECLARES ALL WOULD BE HURT
Weld Claims Packers Control less
Than Half of Hide Business.
Charges Federal Commissions Re
port Saturated With inaccuracies.

WASHINGTON August 25.-Furthcr
imitation OF ,oods,un .priEfs ,no w TUni
yon bill to regulate and license the
packing industry. l.. ID. n Weld, man
ager OF the commercial research de-
partment OF swift " Co. testified to-
day before the Senate Agriculture Com
mi,tee, whcre the bill is under con-
S!dcration.
Weld said, lis in the fact that II
was based uoon reports of the Federal
Trade Commission which are saturated
with glarinS inaccufacies and mis-
statements. This would be serious
enough. but the matter does not rest
there because the hill, If passed, Will
further initiate the already high cost
of living"
Elemental ncts in the meat bust
ness" Mr.. Weld said, proved that the
packer profit on meat transactions
was about cents on dollar
Hits One the other.
The Kenyon bill must either inter-
fere With the farmers end OF meat
production. or with the hackers part
the high cost OF living" he said II
the farmer is hit, he VIII cut down
production. which will bring high
his business crippled. the resul; Will
be higher mAnufact 1ri0E costs. and
these 100 Will have u he passeG on.
Mr.. Weld paid his respects "a Com
missioner CoiNer. OF The trade commits
sion. \ previous witness. !suaCki0S
,hat many of his statements here
were exaggerated and inaccurate"
Swift & co. owned no retail stores
in England. and NJ Weld said he had
been unable 70 hnd, that any other
M. Coive- came II here aIad told
you gentlemen that The I'VE large
packers controlled over - per cen;
az the business III hides, ne CON
tiuued. They handle less :hsn so per
GENT and l assure YOU there is the
keenest competition between ali OF
them.
Explains Colrer's Figures.
He told YOU the packers handled
Iao com rodities. Let me reveal 10 YOU
Some OF the processes by which he
reached this figure. He mentioned as
Cleon Carirs. Al three are the same.
He took twen:y-thrce cuts OF beef and
listed Them as twenty-thrce items He
OF cattle dressing. He mentioned
1hirty-Seven items OF sausage.
Mr.. Colver made. the hat statement;
that the Packers have not put any
new capital into the business from
outside sources since 1904 Swift Il
Co. alone has added ss5.Ooe,o00 new
Colver persistently ignored the num-
Der OF packing concerns in business
In this country. Some $50 concerns
besides the big packers. and moreover.
several hundred concerns do a big local
and intrastate business.
Declares All Will lie Hurt.
III the Kenyon bill is passed the
splendid and elaborate service given
the country at large by the big packers
will be interfered with in a way that
VIII hurt everybody conccrned-pro-
ducers packers and consumers"
Mr.. Weld said the constant attacks
OF the trade commission. and attacks
from other sources had forced the
packers Ito defend the Industry" ~
organizing the American Institute OF
Meat Packers.
Mr.. Weld's statement as TO Swift &;
COS prohts on meat drew general fire
from the committee.
Questions A. to Profit Juggling
The packers, controlling the hy-
product prices, would lind il possible
10 switch the figures around in between
Inc accounts, wouldn't they?" senator
" would hc poss ihlc If we were
70 Jussie the accounts and fool our
selves. Nj Weld answered.
iiehrS Ncedcr general counsel for
swift d Co.. interrupted TO say the
company would gladly open its books
70 the inspection Of any accountants
the committee might name.