The sun., 1919-08-24
MORE WITNESSES
DEFEND PACKERS
Meat Mems Refrigerator Car
Operations Upheld by Live
stock Exchange.


car operations OF the 1--WE big packers
were defended to-day before the Senate
Agricultural Committee, which is con-
sidering the Kenyon and Rendrick bills
for regulating the packing industry and
the separation from 1t OF the operation
Of such cars.
c. b. Heineman. representing the Ma
tional Livestock Exchange, who said he
had been connected with packer trafic
departments twelve years. said they
were not the source OF discrimination
against Wholesale grocers and other
packer competitors. He characterized
the denunciation by the Federal Trade
Commission and others of the effects of
packer ownership of the cars as "wilful
misrepresentation or demonstrations OF
blissful ignorance"
Mr.. Heineman was preceded on the
stand by series of retailers. producers
and others who all had objections to
make to the regulating bills
packers would just as soon have the
railroads own these cars" he said, eff
1T were possible for them to get cars
when they Vere needed. II is abso-
lutely false to say that they secure
freight rate discrimination in favor of
the packers. The Interstate Commerce
Commission has passed upon all phases
Of their operation. 1t Is ready to-day
to act on any complaint Foods shipped
In the cars take exactly the same rate
classifications as those shipped in any
thing else"
Tho witness went into the details of
method Of organizing "pedler car"
routes. by which small slots of packer
products are distributed to smaller points
throughout the United States.
The only thing that could be accom-
plished by abolishing those would be
shortening the supply of numberless
places" he said.
q. o. Virtue, examiner for the Federal
Trade Commission, questioned the wit
ness.
1T is true that at certain points In the
Southwest the pedler cars work out bet
ter freight rates for their owners than
DO ordinary freight cars. isn't it7' vir-
tue asked.
Eyes, but that's the fault or the Job
bers. who don't know their business"
Heineman responded. There are no
privileges the other wholesalers can't
obtain by working out the same system
The Commerce Commission sees to that
The only reason the packers get better
eervice Is because they watch their cars
follow them up. and keep at It, II
! owned wholesale grocery house down
there I'd throw out the management and
get In a live bunch.'
( James A. Henderson. Morgan. Utah.
Tcanner, and J. M. Baker. a Tampa, Fla,
| retailer, both objected to the regulation,
and incidentally referred to amendments
to the bills offered by Senator Moses IN.
H). which would require all business to
be licensed. The committe members
were drawn into disagreement imme-
diately.
I'm in favor Of passing upon .he
Moses amendments right away" said
Senator McNary (Qre.), land throwing
them out bodily II necessary. A lot of
people are getting alarmed at their
presence, and don't understand that no.
body is seriously proposing the licensing
| Of all business"
Senator Ransdell uA.) objected, say
| in:
I'm in a judicial attitude. II you are
going to license some forms of business,
| Why not consider the principle OF ex-
| tending them7 I'm not expressing an
opinion as to the wisdom of either
course"
Senator McNary urged that the Moses
amendments ARE making this whole
matter ridiculous" Chairman Gronna
IN. d., however. said Senator Moses
had insisted upon their consideration.
Ross Bowles, for the East Side EN-
ployers Association of East st. Louis.
| ILL.,. and N. B. Mclean. for the Chamber
| Of Commerce IN the same city. said that
business sentiment was not in favor Of
the regulating bills. ]. Thurman, a
Boston wholesale grocer. also objected
| on general grounds.
"A healthy man doesn't need med,-
| cine" Thurman said. land though I am
| grocer I know that business condi-
tons are all right In the country, that
| license restrictions during the war
| though necessary were restrictive, and
| that the situation can be safely left
alone There is plenty OF competition
| and no monopoly"