New-York tribune., 1919-02-04
Former Enploye Charges
1t SERVED as Screen
for Illegal Operations
Promises Details Later
Department OF Agriculture
Accused of Sidetracking
Inquiry Into Production

WASHINGTON. Feb. 3. The Food
Administration and the Department of
Agriculture aided the five big packing
srms in obtaining monopolistic control
Of the meat industry, Edward c. La
sa+sr. of the National Livestock Asso-
e;ation's executive committee and a
former cmploye of the Food Armlnis-
.rssion. testified to-day before the
House Interstate Commerce Commit
Zee.
While Nr. Lasatcr was making This
CHARGE and asserting he had resigned
from the Food Administration because
he realized "its practices were harmful
10 the common welfare l.. II. H. Weld,
manager OF Swift & Co s research de-
nartment. told the Senate Agriculture
Committee coordination Of the Big
hackers to control the meat industry
was impossible because Of the hrgc
number Of independent concerns.
Mr.. Lasater asserted before the
House committee that during the last
eighteen months the Food Adninis-ra-
ton had served as screen" behind
which the packers operated illegally
against the public's interests. When
asked what the illegal acts Of the
packers had been. Mr.. I.ssater replied
he would answer in detail later.
Producer Inquiry Side.racked
The Department of Agriculture
aided the packers. Mr.. Lasater charged.
BY delaying inves stlgation OF the meat
producers BY the Federal Trade CON-
selves were being investigated. He
said the packers did not want such ar
inquiry. as they knew it would rob
them OF the argument that the pro-
oucers. and not they. were making the
big profits
W. J. Spillman. former chief OF the
bureau of farm management OF the De
partemnt Of Agriculture, IN which Mr
Spillman said Secretary Houston re
tarded Investigation OF the producers
by refusing to authorize appointment
Of fifteen invest gators
The next day Mr.. Spillman wrote ht
received letter from Secretar!
Houston notifying him tnar every proj
ect connected with the investigation
Was discontinued. Mr. Spiilmar said the
Secretary authorized the appoiutmen'
of the Investigators only when the
National Livestock Association became
insistent ia its demands
Mr.. Lasater told the committee the
statement of the packers that "they
Aid not have the power to fix prices OF
livestock even if they desired to do so,
WAS not founded on facts and that the
packers knew it
Stockmen Refused Treaty
The witness said the packers had
held out tempting bait" 20 the Live
stock Association at its annual ses-
sion in Chicago in Decent Der, 1917
when they asked the producers to Co
operate" with them Cooperation, he
declared, meant price-fxing and d
further effort o. the packers 70 shove
the blame for high prices on someone
else and the producers refused tc
consider the idea
In his testimony before the Senate
Committee Mr.. Weld said Swift & Co. s
earnings for the period OF the war had
increased l76 per cent. compared with
the three years ending witt 1914 but
nc argued this was net as great an
increase as some other industries had
enjoyed.
But doesn't that show that al Of
you we're making profit during he
var that we're too high - ASKED SEN
ator Norris, Of Nebraska. who declared
mat any surplus accumulated above q
reasonable dividend Wa taken from
the consumers pocket