The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-07-31

|
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
Livestock markets Of the United
States are more completely organized,
more efficiently conducted and better
protected against loss to the producer
than almost any other class Of mar
kets for farm products. However, like
all other large enterprises, the live
stock markets and meat-packing cen
tiers have created problems Of super
vision or regulation because of their
extensive ramificatiOns and their d.
rect influence upon the affairs of ev-
cry producer and user of meats and
the long list of animal by-products.
| AS a consequence Of these cOndi-
lions and in view Of the war needs
for meat and other animal products.
| the government found 1t necessary,
about year ago, to conserve the meat
supply for the war period by exercis-
| ing the war power conferred upon the
president by the food control act, and
| to place the livestock markets under
supervision. A proclamation to that
effect was issued by the president
June 10, 1918, which provided that
public stock yards and those handling
or dealing in live stock in such yards
should be required to operate under
| federal license on and after July %.
1918. The administration of this serv
ice was placed under the secretary Of
agriculture, who designated the bu-
reau of markets to enforce the regu-
lations governing licenses.
Suggestions From Industry Used.
Before the formal Issuance Of the
regulations a tentative draft was sent
to all interested parties with a request
for suggestions. Numerous confer
ences were held with each branch of
the industry, including representatives
| Of the national and local live stock ex-
| changes. AS a result many practical
and useful suggestions were received
and Incorporated In the final draft Of
the regulations.
| At that time the bureau Of markets
was represented in most Of the large
livestock markets by its market re-
|
I resentatives were at once instructed
to perform additional duties as acting
market supervisors. AS rapidly as
competent candidates could be found
they were appointed and assigned to
| duty in the various livestock mar
kets, extending from Boston to Port
| land, Ore, and from Jacksonville to
Los Angeles, including up to the pres
ent time some thirty Offices. One hun
dred and twenty-one stock yards, 394
exclusive commission firms, 7S5 trad
ers. 107 order buyers, 231 packer buy
ers and 1,051 concerns doing two or
more classes Of business have been
| licensed.
Many improvements Made.
At a number of stock yards addi-
tional facilities and improved service
have been installed through the activi-
| ties of the market supervisors, accord
ing to government officials. New
scales, pens and sorting alleys have
been built, better feed has been fur
nished, dirty pens have been cleaned,
additional yard men have been en-
plOyed, arrangements for loading. I'M
loading and moving stock through the
yards have been amplified, a closer
check on weights Of feed has been
made, more prompt service on termi-
nal railroads has been furnished, and
numerous other features OK stock-yard
service have been improved.
AT one important market the time
required to move stock trains from
the end Of the terminal to the unload
ing chutes, which formerly was from
four to twenty-four hours, has been
reduced to period Of from forty-five
minutes to two hours. The officials Of
the live stock exchange ut that mar
ket say they had tried for rs years
to secure relief from terminal delays
but without result. At another mar
ket the baskets formerly used for
measuring corn were discarded and
new set of standard bushel baskets
put In their place. Feed charges have
been reduced in some cases on sugges-
ton Of the local market supervisors.
Supervisors as Umpires.
Besides the direct purpose for whic.
the supervision service was estab-
lished 1t has been utilized In other Inn
portant. matters. The department rep
resentatives were in position to be
Of assistance TO the representatives
Of the food and railroad administra-
tions, exchanges, packers and stock
yards during the critical days Of the
period of stabilized hog prices which
this country has recently passed
through. In this situation, as in many
other matters. 1t was found that a
neutral official representing no private
or class interest could aid with de-