Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-19
ARMOUR CLAIMS
REPORT SHOW S
{ LACK OF STUDY
CBy ]. OGDEN ARMOUR).

n
Herbert Hoover's successful ad-
ministration of the worlds food
problems proves ability that justi-
fies consideration OF his conciu-
ssions upon any subject to which he
has given mature thought How
ever, I do not feel that his opin-
ions relative to the Federal Trade
Commission report were based on
comprehensive knowledge of the
packing industry. Mr.. Hoover
letter was written five months ago
after less than a years association
with our food problems, and before
the packers had had opportunity to
set forth the facts and fundament-
ais with reference to the eX parte
report on which he was asked to
comment In view Of the tremend-
Gus burdens he then carried, l can
not conceive of his having found
time TO study the fundamentals of
the situation and it should be noted
that his letter was written by re-
quest and not volunteered as the
result of any belief on his part that
his study was sufficiently compre-
hensfTe to warrant final conclu-
sions, yet from his observation he
freely admits the efficiency of the
present organization of the indus
try.
While concurring in the trade
commissions demand that stock and
refrigerator cars be taken from the
packers, he points out that refrig-
orator cars are highly technical
services beyond the ordinary range
of railway management" and that
whether this service should be
conducted by government or pri-
va,te enterprise seems to me to re-
quire further thought and in any
event to depend upon the ultimate
disposal of the railway question"
Cites Federal Commission.
Such further thought" as Mr.
Hoover recommends was given the
matter by the Interstate Commerce
commission and it's decision after
six years of exhaustive investiga-
ton might be summed up in this
paragraph of its report of July 81,
1918:
1.-THE refiner of oil, or the meat
packer, could no more do business
on an economic and efficient basis
without his private cars than he
could without his modern equipped
refining or packing plant" -
This report, which is of more re-
cent date than Mr. Hoover's letter,
fully 1ustifies packer ownership Of
refrigerator car lines. 1t is not il
logical to assume that with this re-
port before him, Mr.. Hoover would
concur fully in the contention of
the packers that they, themselves,
can best handle their refrigerator
car service. IF any agency is de-
veloped for giving the service that
Is essential, I, for one, will gladly
relinquish the privilege of running
such cars at loss as is now done.
Mr.. Hoover agrees with the trade
commission that the packers should
not be financially interested in
stock yards. He does not say who
should own them but he expresses
himself as against federal owner
ship on the ground that it is detri-
mental to maintenance or individ-
ual initiative on the part of Ameri-
ran citizens. There is no quarrel
as to ownership of the yards. Pack
Prs ask only that the yards be op-
Grated with their present efficiency
because they are essential to the in
dustry.
Opposes Federal Regulation.
Mr. Hoover does not concur in
The trade commission demand that
packers branch houses. cold stor-
age. etc. be taken from them. He
confirms the packers contentious
in this matter
With his theory Of regulation to
prevent the packers alleged incur |
sions into the general food field, !
cannot agree and I call attention to |
ais error in Iikening such regula- |
lion to existing legislative control |
Of banks, railways and insurance !
companies. Banks and insurance |
companies are trustees of other |
peoples moneys. and railways are |
by their inherent character public |
utilities. Regulation of the pack |
srs' activities as Mr.. Hoover sug-
yests. involves our government en- |
sering upon a field of novel and !,
radical legisiation-the determin- |
ing by law of the commodities an /
Individual or q corporation shall |
handle. That is improper, un-Am-
erican and an infringement of the
Fery rights which Mr.. Hoover says
must be assured equality of OPP
portunity and full scope for initia-
i've.
The part Of MI HOover's letter
Fhich should get the most atten-
lion in my opinion. is his admoni-
lion to give mature thought to the
whole matter before enacting legis-
Iation. Mature thought and COM
5rehensive understanding of the
functions of the packing industry
vii bring conclusions in which the
industry. itself, can readily concur.
Colds Cause Headaches and Pains.
Feverish Headaches and Body
Pains caused from a cold are soon
by taking LAXATIVE
BRONO QUININE Tablets. There's
sniy one "BromO Quinine." z. W.
GROVES signature on the box.
s0c.-(Adv.)
EOTTCE OF DISSOLUTION OF
PARTE
The copartnershfp firm of Mans