The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-19
CONGRESS
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constantly improve our ,manufactur-
ing and distributing processes to the
of both producer and con-
sumner. The detailed methods, except
in the manifest case Of car and stock
yard control. require much more
thought.
THE activity OF the food admins
tratiOn is necessarily founded on Sc
curing the largest service and the
least disruption and danger to distri-
button during this period OF national
strain. To take such a radical step
as to seibe the packers branch houses
for the war, would effect no perman-
emit values and would surely disrupt
distribution at this time. The packers
are today performing their economic
duties of preserving and distributing
the meat supplies to our own popula-
ton and the allies, as distinguished
from the social results Of their or
ganization, and the only outstanding
question from a purely win-the-war
point of view is whether the packers
are today imposing upon their com
petitOrs and whether their remunera-
tion is exorhitant. These are matters
which can be remedied during the
Il would, in any event, separate the
whole problem into question as to
what should be done as a war emerg-
ency and what should be done as a
permanent solution Of the whole ques-
ton. do not feel that the govern
ment should undertake the solution
of the problem by the temporary au-
thority conferred under the war pow
ers Of the railway and food admins.
trations, which must terminate with
peace, but rather that 1t should be laid
before congress for searching copsfd-
Grafton, exhaustive debate and de-
velopment of public opinion, just as
has been necessary in the develop
ment Of the public interest in our
banks, insurance companies and rail
ways"
ARMOUR MAKES DEFENSE,
CHICAGO. Feb. ID. Odgen Ar
mour, president of Armour and COM
pany, in statement issued relative
to the report of Herbert Hoover, on
the meat industry, said that he did
not feel that Hoover's report was
based on comprehensive knowledge
of the packing industry, and that the
report was written before the packers
had had an opportunity to set forth
the facts in the situation.
with his theory OF regulation to
prevent the packers alleged incur
sions into the general food field, he
says: I cannot agree and / call atten-
ton to his error in ikening such regu-
lation to- existing legislative control
of banks, railways and insurance com
panies. Banks and insurance COM
panies are trustees of other peoples
moneys. and railways are by their
inherent character, public utilities
Regulation of the packers activities
as Mr.. Hoover suggests, involves our
government entering upon a field of
novel and radical leHslation-the de-
termining by law of the comodities
an individual corporation shall handle
That is improper, un-American and an
abHdgement of the very rights which
Mr., Hoover says must be assured
equality Of opportunity and full scope
for initiative.
1.-THE part of Mr.. Hoover's letter
| which should get the most attention,
| in my opinion, is his admonition to
| give mature thought to the whole mat
ter before enacting legislation. Ma
| ture though and comprehensive under
standing of the functions of the pack
/ ing industry will bring conclusions in
which the industry, itself, can readily
concur" fE &N