Arizona republican., 1919-09-03

The Telegram to Senator Gronna
 San Francisco, Aug. 22, 1919. Senator A. F. Gronna,
 Chairman Committee on Agriculture,
 United States Senate,
 Washington, D. c.
 The American National Livestock Association has delegated to it's Mar ket Committee authority to act in connection with legislation affecting the livestock industry.
 The Association has long realized the impossibility of proper conduct of the livestock business when subject to the entrenched monopoly of the great packer combination, and has consistently fought for remedial fed eral Legislation. In the Kendrick and Kenyon bills now before congress. we recognize and endorse the general plan for thorough going federal control of the packing business, which, while not interfering with efficiency in this great national industry shall in the fu- ture prevent the abuses growing out of world wide concentrated power, preying alike upon producer and con- sumner; wasteful in many of its meth
 
 sees fit, and ever advancing in its control of foodstuffs.
 We believe that the licensing sys- tenn properly placed power and re- sponsibility for just and rational treat ment in an impartial agency of the government. the department of agri- culture, with the sworn duty to exer- else that power in the public welfare.
 We believe that in the Kendrick and Kenyon bills now before you there rests the means of carrying out req sonable recommendations based on findings of fact, and we find in the proposed legislation no menace to the legitimate performance with reasonable profit of the duties public in their na- ture, which are performed by the packers.
 We endorse as essential the policy of divorcing the packers from control of the stockyards which should be public market places treated as pub lie utilities and open under equal and reasonable conditions to all. We en- dOrse control in the public interest of the commission men and market news and stockyard papers. We believe that private refrigerator cars should be rated as common carriers. We find in the proposed penalties for violation of law or regulations nothing oppres- sive but effective means for the exer- else of necessary control and we thoroughly approve the establishment, as suggested in the Kenyon bill of foodstuff warehouses, destined to furn- ish new and economical channels of communication between producer and consumer.
 We realize the essential bond uniting our interests with those of the con- sumer and have at all times recognizd the need of furnishing to the public all detailed information concerning the producing processes of the livestock and meat business. We have nothing to conceal and we demand that the manufacturing and distributing factors shall be equally open to public knowl- edge.
 We are aware of the desperate ef- forts being made by the packers to maintain their unconscionable posi- ton. We have noted their lavish ex- penditure in advertising that has dealt in evasion, misrepresentation and half truths and we ask for legislative ac- ton that will publish and continue to make public to the country the detail of the meat business, upon which the life of the country so largely depends.
 Speaking for an immense body of producers, we emphatical1y repudiate recent unfair statements by those weak-kneed and improperly influenced commission men, who although our paid agents, have thoroughly mis- stated both the character of the pro posed legislation and the attitude of the great body of livestock producers regarding the legislation now before you. The attitude of the stockyard's s press has generally been equally dis honest and manifestly inspired
 We deplore the recent action o1 those livestock producers who have passed resolutions condemning cer- tain features of the proposed bin. in. stead of endorsing the vital principle. and aiding in clearing the Legislation of that which they consider objection