The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-30
Mercer Bill Would Place X. c.,
Kan, Pens Under State.
Introduce 1t at Special Legisla
tive Session, His Plan.
TO HALT EXCESSIVE CHARGES
StOckmen-Are Victims of Yard
Operators, Is Claim.
Recently Compelled to Meet
Slump of $50 a Head.

State legislation to place the Kansas
City stockyards under control of the
state livestock sanitary department is
to be urged before the special session
of the Kansas legislature next week.
If the bill is blocked at the special
session, it will be considered at the
Irregular session a year hence.
The same day the state legislature
meets in special session, j. H. Mercer,
state livestock sanitary commissioner,
will act under an existing state law
and take over certain pens and yards
for the purpose of enforcing quaran-
tine regulations. MERGERS move will
be made in an effort to block the prac-
tice of stockyards company officials
who remove the quarantine pens to
the Missouri side in an effort to en-
force collection of excessive charges
from Kansas shippers. the Kansas
official asserts. The move will be the
first step in p campaign to bring all
stockyards in Kansas under the super
vision and control of the Stockmen and
shippers.
Declares Poker Safer.
with conditions remaipine at the
present degree of uncertainty, l would
recommend a man play poker with his
money rather than go into the live
stock raising business" said Commits
sioner Mercer. UNLESS something is
done to stabilize markets and condi-
tions. the livestock growers had just
as well give their money away and
go out of business In a period of a
very few days recently. the stockmen
of Kansas were compelled to meet a
slump of $40 a head on beef steers.
They simply can't do it."
Mercers plan is to secure enact
ments which will place the stockyards
under supervision and control of the
state departments. This plan, he be-
lieves, will stabilize marketing condi-
tionS. The Kansas Livestock associa-
tion which meets in Wichita in Janu-
ary will give much earnest considera-
tion to the need of new methods. The
stockmen have sent a challenge to the
packing and sstockyards interests for
a four hours debate on the question of
regulatory organization for the sta bill
ization of shipping, feeding and mar
keting conditions. Mercer believes the
ment as to a state policy may be
worked ont at the meeting.
Burdick to Introduce 1t.
Representative A. p. Burdick.- OF
Atchison county, an assistant livestock
commissioner, will probably introduce
the bill regulating stockyards COM
pany operations and placing the pro-
perties under the control of the state
department. In event a closed session
is held, and legislation outside Gov
ernor Aliens program is prohibited.
the bill will be carried over until the
next regular session.
-'I believe, tho. that the livestock
situation is almost as much of an
emergency as any other measure
which can come before the legislature
during the special session. Mercer
stated. IF any bills outside the gov
ernor's immediate program are con-
sidered by house and senate members,
L hope to have hearing on the bill
placing the stockyards under supervi-
sion of the livestock interests"
The move to be made next week will
direct that quarantine hog pens be
established on the Kansas side. When
state Officials protested recently
against excessive vaccination charges,
the quarantine yards were promptly
moved to Missouri.