Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-25

WASHINGTON, AUX. so'--r VI 'HeF III
flation of foodstuff prices would re-
suit from passage of the Kenyon bill
to regulate and license the packing in
dustry. l.. d. II. Weld. manager OF the
commercial research department OF
Swift 4 Co. testified today before the
senate agriculture committee. where
the bill is under consideration.
The main objection 20 the BILL" Mr..
Weld said, lis in the fact that it was
based upon reports of the federal trade
commission, which are exaggerated
with glaring, Inaccuracies and mis-
statements. This would be serious
enough, but the matter does not rest
there, because the bin, If passed, will
further initiate the already high cost OF
living"
Says Packers Profits Are Small.
Elemental facts, in the meat business,
Mr.. Weld said. proved that the packers
profits on meat transactions was about
cents on dollar.
The Kenyon bill must either inter
fere with the farmers end of meat
production. or with the packers part
of the business IL designed to affect
the high cost of living" he said. III
the farmer is hit, ne will cut down pro-
ductions, which will bring higher stock
prices. II the packer is hit and his
business crippled the result will be
higher manufacturing costs and these,
too, will have to be passed on
Mr. Weld paid his respects to COM
missioner Culyer, OF the trade COM
mission, previous witness. remark
ing that many OF his statements here
were exaggerated and inaccurate.
Swift & Co. own no retail stores In
England. Mr.. Weld said, and added
that he had been unable to find that
any other American packer did so.
Denies colver Figures.
"Mr. Colver came in here and told
you gentlemen that the five large pack
ers controlled over 10 per cent of the
business in hides he continued.
"They handle less than so per cent and
I assure YOU there is the keenest COM
petition between all of them. He told
you the packers handled 700 commodi-
ties. Let me reveal to you some of the
processes by which he reached this fig
ure He mentioned as separate items
butterine, oleo and oleomargarine. All
three are the same. He took twenty
three cuts of beef and listed them as
twenty three items. He gave II items
as list of by products of cattle dress
ing. He mentioned thrty-seven items
of sausage.
"Mr Colver made the fiat statement
that packers have not put any new
capital into the bus mess from outside
sources since 1904. Swift &, Co, alone
sales of shares Mr.. Colver presistently
ignored the number OF packing con-
Germs in business in this country. Some
aaSo concerns arc engaged IL Interstate
business besides the big packers ana
moreover several hundred concerns DO
big local and interstate business.
.Jf the Kenyon bill Is passed the
splendid and elaborate service given
the country at large by the big packers
will be interfered with In n way that
will hurt everybody concerned-pro-
duccrs, packers and consumers.
Mr.. Weld said the constant attack
OF the trade commission and attacks
from other sources had forced the
ganizing the American Institute OF
Meat Packers"
eve have to meet those attacks as
we can" he continued. "The other day
two members Of tho committee" Sen
ators Capper and Hendricks. induced
the department Of agriculture TO
change a statement which 1t had pre-
pared on live stock conditions so that
as II appeared 1t reacted on the prohts
and actions OF the packers"
Senators Capper and Kendricks
challeged the assertion. Mr.. Weld said
It was based on a speech In the house
by Representative Tichner, Of Kansas,
Both senator's entered formal denial
which Mr.. Weld said he accepted as
presentation Of the facts.
Mr.. Yields statement as to Swift 4
Co.'s profits on meat drew general fire