Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-19

VI GltItI "hotSSdiSs
or retail markets in the promotion o.
these ends IS matter OF great division
OF opinion. The mos; predominant
feeling in the independent trades is
that if sites can he made availa bic. ad-
iacent to railway facilities. the trades
themselves would solve the matter. In
any event, the whole public marke;
question is peculiar TO each city or
town. and my own inquiries find Little
belief that the present branch houses
of the packers would serve this purpose.
Furthermore, my own instinct. il any
event. is against federal ownership of
such facilities. and our own inquiries
rather indicate that il transportation
questions. together with factors men,
toned later On. are put right. this lro-
blem will solve itself. Altogether l DO
no: consider that the prime obiect OF
maintaining the initiative Of our c:u-
zens and Of oar .ocai communities is 20
be secured by this vast expansion u
federal activities.
There are certain matters relating u
The development and control Of the
packing Industry which are not referred
70 in the report If the trade commits
sion. which appear to ire of first i'm
portance. One effect of the great cen-
tralization OF this industry has bcen
the qualification or decline in slaughter
near many large cities and towns. l
believe this has been initialiy due to the
inability TO recover by-products 70 su-h
advantage as under the Capitalization.
a disability that does not now genera.'v
exist, for most OF these products now
have ar outlet. !, has also peen par
TALLY due to the cheaper animals from
the cheaper lands OF the West-and this
alspa rtE in costs if animal production
has greatly diminished with settlement.
Of the country. II is also partially dus
TO al least the fear that the great pack
ers would direct their power Of unde
selling against such enterprises. "
proper ahattolrs could be extended re4e
the larger towns. possibly with munich
pal help and the operations therein pro
,.oteI from iiiegitnate competition.
believe they would not only succeed
but would greatly stimulate the loc :!
production OF meat ANIMALS. One efferr
would h. a great statilizaticn nf pric.:
ny wider based market than rnat
n"~ 81 barely dependent upon a small
group of buyers.
around tie fact tina: feel the solutions
n-opounGci ~ Tire trade commits on
vii not entirely so.,e the problem Of
the invasion Of many other lines -
God handling besides ANNA. products
This portion Of their business is more
largely supported by their largerGred =
and their elimination Of the whoiesa .e
grocer. rather than Upon railway priv
lege. As 10 whether such goods can 20
rendcd more economically direc. than
through the wholesaler is a matter of
much contention. II seems to me, how
ever. that this whole phase o. ABSORB
ton Of other food industries requires
consideration. II appears to NE a least
worth thought as to whether these az
gregations should no: be confined 20
more narrow and limited activities. sa-
those involved in the slaughter OF an
mas, the preparation and marketing oc
the products .therefrom alone. Such a
course might solve the branch house
problem. and it is not an Unknown
legislative control, as witness oUr
banks, railways and insurance COM
panies.
one other cause also chches the free
marketing OF food in the United States.
which will not be reached by the ulti-
mate action on the above lines. am,
that Is the present insufficient standard
izauon Of our food products. and this
TINS would contribute to strengthen the
independent manufacturer
IN summation. ! believe tina. the uiti-
mate solution of this problem is 70 be
obtained by assuring equal opportunity
in transportation. equal opportunity
IN the location of manufacturing ties
ana OF terminal sites. and the limitation
OF the activities of these businesses. In
this situation. believe that the 30 mi.
nor meat packing establishments and
the hundreds of other food preseryers
could successfully expand their inter.
state activities and that local slaueh.
Ter would increase with economic gain
% the community. and all through con-
tlnued competition constantly improve
our manufacturing and distributing
processes to the advantage of both pro-
ducer and consumer. The detailed
methods. except in the manifest case OF
car and stock yard control require
much more thought
Inc activity of the food administra-
ton Is necessarily founded on securing
the largest service and the least disrup-
ton and danger 70 distribution during
TINS period Of national strain tn tar>
sueh radical step as to seize the pack
ers branch houses for the war, would
erect no permanent values and would
surely disrupt distribution at this time.
Inc packers are today performing their
economic duties Of preserving and dis
trlouting the meat supplies to our own
population and the allies. as distin-
guished from the social results Of their
organization. and the only outstanding
question from a purely win-the-war
point Of view is whether the packers are
today imposing upon their competitors
ard whether their remunerat ton is ex-
orbitant. These are matters which can
be renedied during the war by regula-
ton and taxation
| would, in any event. separate the
whole problem into a question as to
what should be done as war emer-
gency and what should be done as a
permanent solution Of the whole ques-
ton. | do not feel that the government
should undertake the solution OF the
problem by the temporary authority
conferred under tire war powers OF the
railway and food administrations which