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

nearly six months ago on the big
meat packers was made public Tues.
day by the federal food administra-
ton at the direction Of the President
ito establish the real position of Mr.
Hoover and the food administration
on the control Of the Chicago pack
ing industries" In recent hearings
before Congressional committees
witnesses for the livestock men
charged collision between Mr.. Hoov-
er and the five leading packers.
In the report. in response to a re-
quest from the President for hi. views
on the recommendations Of the fed
eral trade commission. Mr.. Hoover
said he reaffirmed his opinion given
nearly year before that here is a
growing and dangerous domination Of
the nations foods,uffs.' and APP
proved some Of the commission's
proposals. He recommended con-
s,ructive regulation rather than
stretching temporary war powers OF
the government. and expressed the
belief that the domination of the
packers did not necessarily imply
wrong doing on their part, but was
the natural outgrow1h of various
factors which need correction"
Mr.. Hoover accepted as economi-
cally sound the federal trade com
missions recommendation regarding
federal control OF animal and refrig-
orator car service, and said stock
wards should be entirely disassocia,-
ed from the control of the packers"
He contended, however, that wrong
practices between buyers and sellers
would not be corrected by the gov
ernmen, controlling or owning yards.
His own instinct, Mr.. Hoover said.
was against federal ownership Of the
packers branch houses and cold stor-
age and warehouse facilities. Going
into aspects Of the packing industry
not covered by the trade commission
he said:
II proper abattoirs could be ex-
tended near the larger towns. possibly
with municipal help and the opera
tons therein protected from illegit-
mate competition. believe they
would not only succeed. but would
greatly stimulate the local production
of meat animals. One effect would
be a great sterilization Of prices by
a wider based marke. than that now
so largely dependent upon a small
group of buyers"
And last, but by no means least.
Mr.. Hoover recommended laying the
whole problem before Congress for
exhaustive debate and development
Of public opinion"
That was last September. M
Hoover. to all purpose and under
standing. was an important, ii not
MOST IMPORTANT. member Of the
Presidents board Of official war ad-
vtsers. On the food administrator
depended the holdin.' out Of the en-
! tente allies until the American army
: could reach Europe. The country
. was coaxed. wheedled. threatened,
! buffeted into food pledges. even while
, the booze interests were worse than
wasting millions Of tons OF food !;
while other millions Of tons were be.
ing piled up by prodteers for the
eminent CONTROL" while ten thou
sand insolent hardships were being
deliberately inflicted upon the masses
in the name Of war service" that
favored classes might pile up 'un-
earned increment"
But Of what weight was Admins
traitor Hoovers recommendation to
the President. If only locked up in
the Presidents personal papers as
proof to save Mr.. Hoovers neck
from Congressional charges that
NIGHT come out Of inquiry and dis
covery Of solemn facts?
/ 1t has taken months Of patient in.
vestigation by Congressional COM
mittees to bring out that which Mr..
Hoover urged be called to the atten-
! ton Of Congress last September.
Conditions have not improved mean
while. The profiteering has gone on
and the systems have been further
! perfected. Weeks after the armistice
was signed prices were deliberately
lacked up because there was oppor-
tunity. and the public was helpless.
Stock feeds were jumped SIS a ton on
no other pretense than that the grab
! bers wanted the money and the food
control" pretense had been removed
the profiteers could make killing
without fear of the food administra-
ton being forced into punitive ex-
petitions.
On December 5 the Congress was
told Of the demands of the secretary