Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-19
HIDDEN PROFITS ARE
CHARGED To PACKERS
BY VIM. D. COLVER
Member of Federal Trade
Commission Reveals In
veStigationS of "Big Five"
Explains System

tion-wide effort to reduce the cost
Of living were:
Report of the Atlanta division Of
the department of justice alleges
profiteering in sugar in Atlanta.
Agents claim to have information
that sugar bought from the refiner-
les at eight and three-quarter and
nine and a quarter cents pound
is being sold here at from IA to 10
cents in some instances.
Sale of millions of dollars worth
Of surplus army food began at mora
than $4,000 postoffices throughout
the country.
Department of justice officials
who expect to seize $1o.OO0,o00 worth
Of boarded food this week, ara
watching the sale with interest. At
torney General Palmer is consider
ing disposing of the seized food
through the postoffice once it is con-
lenned through court action.
In cons ess legislation to bring
down high prices and end profiteer-
ing is expected to be the chief topic
of legislative disc ssion and COM
mittee action during the week.
Retail food prices reached the
highest mark ever recorded during
the past month of July, the depart
ment of labor announced. Using ~
staple food articles as basis the
departments report showed price
increase of two per cent over De
cember, 1918, which month has peefl
the previous high water mark. AS
compared with June, the July IN
crease was three p cest.
The five big packers are taxing
millions of dollars in hidden prollt'
through ownership Of stock yaros'
William B. Colver, of the teoeral
trade commission, told the senate
agriculture committee. EnormouS
nrofits o. packer-controlled stock
Yards, including feeding charges anu
ner1 rent, roll into Golfers of the ols
hackers before the cattle reache"
slaughter houses, he explained "
found the five great meat-pacKlns
CORPORATIONS control the meat-pacN-
ing industry Of the country ne
declared, referring to the commls-
sion,s investigation of the packing
business. There are many indepena-
emf hackers he said, hut they eS-
listed on the sufferance"
HEARING ON BILLS TO
REGULATE PACKERS BEGINS
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1S.-With
statement by Senator Kenyon tnat
the American people refuse to stand
for Unreasonable profits" the senate
agriculture committee today began
hearings on packer regulation legls-
latlon.
The committee has before 1t both
the KENYON and Kendrick bills, the
former being the more drastic of the
two.
The hearings opened with a stat
ment by Senator Kenyon in which
he explained the purposes CT his
measure
1.-The people will stand for reason
able profits, but they are not going
to stand for reasonable profits" Mr..
Kenyon declared. And the profits
that are being made by the packing
monopoly come near being treason
able profits"
Not Federal Ownership Bill
The Kenyon bill, he explained, is
not a government ownership bill.
We are not trying to iujure tn"
packers, or ruin business" he said.
1T is true that the bill does lodge
tremendous powers in the hands OF
one man.
"There are radical bills. 1t is use &,
less to pretend they are not. They
have tCet hin them. They propose
new method Of corporate control.
But in vie wof the facts disclosed
in the federal trade commissions in
veStigation and the conditions OF un-
rest in the country, we felt congress
could not sit idly by and do moth
ing.
"A monopoly of the necessaries of
life is indefen sitle and irtolerable.
These bills are to destroy that mo-
nopoly. When a monopoly reaches
that stage we can't say it is priv
ate business. 1t is public utility"
Parcel Post Sale On
Sale of millions Of dollars worth
of surplus army food began at more
than $4,000 postoffices throughout
the country today.
The big marketing job, which will
be conducted through the parcel post,
will end August 20, by which time
will be disposed of. If the sale
proves as successful as officials here
believe it will, other army surplus,
including blankets and clothing, Will
be disposed of in the same way.
Department of justice officials who
boarded food this week, are also
watching the sale with interest. AT
torney Genearl Palmer is consider
ing disposing Of the seized food
through the postofice once it is con-
demned through court action.
Preparations for the sale of the
army food are complete. Postmas-
ters have price lists which they will
make public in every possible wdI
along with complete directions as 10
how the eo fo oodsd is t. to = BE- .. sold pnlu
The sale of the surplus food alonS
with the seizures planned by the d.
partment of justice are expected to
be the two heaviest blows yet aim
ed at high cost of living by the eX-
ecutive arm of the government.
IN congress legislation to brlni-
down high prices and end profiteer
ing is expected to he the chief topic
of legislative discussion and commit
tee action during the week.
A subcommittee of the senate in
terstate commerce committee, which
is working along the lines suggested
by President Wilson, is expected I"
turn out some recommendations soon,
The senate agriculture commit
tee has under consideration requests
of Attorney General Palmer for~
broadening the scope of the war food
control act under which Mr.. Palmer
is operating. Farmers are fighting
these recommendations.
Hearings on bills to regulate the
packers are also before the senates
agriculture committee.
Many absent house members were
returning to Washington today as or
dered by leaders to take up price leg
iSla tim Antinn in he hra rnh