The Washington herald., 1919-02-04
AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT
PACKER SCREEN
So Charges Livestock Man
Testifying Before House
Investigators.
HOUSTON Is ACCUSED
Witness Includes Food Ad-
minisration In Serious
Accusations.

Charges that the Department OF As
ricuIture served az a screen for al
legged unfair practices Of the big
FIVE" packers were made before the
House Interstate Commerce Commit
tee yesterday by Z G. Lasater, rep
rcscntins the executive and market
committees Of the American Natlonai
Livestock Association.
Il believe there is a national need
Tor a thorough airing Of the Depart
Weut OF Agriculture and the Food Ad-
immigration" said Mr.. Lasater. The
packers alone could not have done
what they have done. They have been
behind the department of Agriculture
as a screen"
Mr.. Lasater asserted that Secretary
Houston had stopped Investigations
that were being made to ascertain the
cost OF producing live stock because
he did not want the country to know
what this cost was. In this cOnnec-
tf0n. Mr. Lasatcr read a letter from
W. J. SDilIman, formerly chief OF
raTUI management. of secretary Hous-
TOMS office In this the Secretary was
quoted as saving: The only use ever
made OF such information is for agi-
fat0rs to go out and stir the farmers
up
RuCd "ROtten showing Up
While Mr.. Lasater was assaiIinG the
IHHnrtweut OF Agriculture and the
Food Administration Francis J. HenCy
was having read into the record of the
~.u-.n agriculture hearing an alleged
.r.fFrr rrrrrr-T-rI .Ir7r11 M prrfs u
Swat. urosidcHt of Swift and Com
~'-s memorandum read.
.rIe matter shows us up rotten.
q .a. ashamed it cot this way. and
s.rrv -.a cannot change over to Swift
rnf Company or sell out Think we
must L. +. s.
i.Irh" is head OF W. T. Pricbe & Co,
r,4'rv dealers. alleged to be owned
ns swift * Co. This was denied by
swift and Herbert Hoover. when crit
Ici=m arose after Priebe was appointed
head OF the poultry division of the
iuud administration.
a second memorandum. read by He
usE. apparently an answer to the first,
was si-ucd Il \ c." said to be
T. y. carton, treasurer of Swift &
60. j. rcaI-
Is fLllEaAL lS~lflE- -lIlt
Who'll" poultry business is Whether
would be- les so by changing name to
swift co is matter I have men,
roUed 10 You and the others and is
without conclusion. L. \. c."
Honey and Page Tilt.
'Iruas said ne found the memoran-
DUN among his papers last week
after Swift had bccu CrOss1eNamiHed
h"fur" the committee. It apparently
got IUtr his papers by accident
LI.Gs-- said. II,nry sat just across
rar lanIr from Swift during the
Hcariu-. Senator PAGE sharply
question. Ih" propri,ty Of using
the m,wurauduU. but later It was
read INTO tho record.
This memorandum was strictly
ur1vJto and confidential" rage OBJ
5,.t,L eft Was obtained by mistake
and tn take it UP is absolutely
Without Justification"
NH. Federal Trade Commission
has power To- 90 into packers hICs,
II,r.v r.tor,rd.
.f'.- EoI -ot this hv mistake, and
10 Wis not attended Tor you" Senator
Ia-r utut,-irI.
-Th.. If % lur-'ar leaves his tools
,nr Ha.-d NOT by iustiG,d in using
rn.u FOO ruuy.Cl," said IIcuey.
This doesn't meet my sense of pro,
u-" y. 'h.N 70 is IL piece Of dishOn-
.s't. n..' wuuiIu't think of doing
-u.n 60 tl--.' Page continued.
.~-'1. -Ill spOnSIblity," con-
c..-...I Il,u.y.
~".rJur Gore aid it was a public
m-a".r mil hot solely "a private COM
Is.r ,af-ga-