The Washington herald., 1919-01-23
ARMOUR URGES
CONGRESS- COMB
CHICAGO PLANT.
Asks That Committee Be
Sent to Investigate Con-
dihons There.
ROLLED BY FARMERS
Packer Advocates Regula-.
ton Of Livestock Flow
to Market.

Congress was asked by Z opd~s
Armour today to send a committee to
his Chicago plant 10 investigate fts,,
methods and accounts first hand
during his second appearance before.
the House Interstate Commerce Com
mittee-
There has been 30 much TAN
Armour said IN referring 70 chzrresl
Eainst the packers. that 6ou-t be-
lieve any witness can come down here,
and give as good an idea az you gen
uemen could get with your own eyes
You would then see the reason for the
packing house business"
Armour asserted that II the packers
had done things as wrongly as they
had been accused, they oould not
have stayed in business.
Armour said he draws an annual
salary Of 5000.
"Irsinuations that rachzrs psy'
themselves big salaries 20 hide
profits are unfair" he added
Would Regulate output.
Regulation Of the how OF live stocE
10 markets was urged by Mr.. Armour.
A Agreements between prOoucers. ship
pers and packers or q central com
mission could accomplish this, he
said. He complained that the sus-
picious attitude Of the public toward
the packers had prevented this 90
far
IT there was a little more Hbcr- f.,
ality in treatment OF the packers. Il I
might help some" he said but the,
minute a packer talks 20 anybody. 4,
every one thinks there is a combi-
nation.
1t would be a hundred times bet
! ter for the community II there could
be some argument allowing pro
dUcers, shippers and packers 20 come o
together.
I'VE would like to be able TO do
some thing TO create harmony BE-
tween these various interests that /
would not result in condemning the /
packer"
Farmcrs' Circular RoiIs HIN.
Representatives Of the National
I Farmers headquarters, sat through
! out yesterdays session and took 1
copious notes. Armour finally broke I
/ his calm when ssked questions /
! based on one of their circulars
We do a real service to the coun- q
I try he said We take in the live
animal at one end Of the business
and turn out dressed meat at the {.
other. We bridge q gap between
we do il. because OF our volume Of
business. at the lowest margin OF
pront possible. We have grown
large because We have been eni-
cient We have become what We
are because VIC have been OF SOY
ice to the producer and the con-
sumner"
Some one s trying to fool some
: body" witness said. This activity
! is creating an unfair feeling. There
/ has been no profiteerinE. We'ro do
( ing business on a closer margin or
profit than any other big manu-
featuring business I know. They
, have no facts against ur."
How about government owner
ship OF the railroads." Mr. Armour
was asked later.
4 don't believe the government
can engage efficiently and economic
ally in that activity" answered the
witness.
Threat Of competition OF South
American meat in American nar-
kets came into the hearing.
No Fear of south Amcriea.
/ There has been no competition in
the past" the witness said. The
duty was taken of South American
meat so short time before the war
that no business Of any size had
3 been built UP in it. Then the war
came a7d all South American meats
went to Europe. ] suppose some or
il will come here now. II can be
3 produced cheaper than meat here.
/ But VIC hope with peace 10 have the
/ markets OF Europe opened 70 Us.
I France and Germany always have
been closed.
I IT all restrictions were taken Of
the packing business, we'd lose
money for a little while. Tho big
stocks wed have on hand we'd have
to let go at a loss, but tAen therc'd
3 be a rush OF orders from abroad and
. the prices would jump hack hiEfcr
than now. I think we'd make in the
/ long run on such actions But the
/ producer would lose on tho stun he
. rushed into the market at the start
! Some agency 10 stabilize marketing
{ would be a good thing for the pro-
dfrrFr