New-York tribune., 1919-08-27
Federal Monopoly
Or Licensing of
Meat Cars Urged
Trade Commission Report
Says ''Big Five'' Packers
Control Industry Largely
Through Private Lines


Through Private Lines
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-That the
"Big Five" Chicago packers own 80 per
cent of the refrigerator cars used to
transport the country's meat supply
and that this is one of the principal
factors in their control Of the meat in
dustry is asserted in a report on pri-
vate car lines made public to-day by
the Federal Trade Commission.
The recommendation is made that
all cars used for the transportation Of
meat animals and all refrigerator cars
and equipment be operated on equal
terms to all shippers.
THE present countrywide system of
distribution by the five big packers
through their branch houses and ped
ler car routes," the report states, ais
built around the principle of refrigera-
ton. and has grown up from their con-
| tnoI of refrigerator car lines, in con-
Junction with the various pools and
combinations maintained almost con-
tinuously for more than thirty five
years.
"The small independent packers cars
are misused and diverted, frequently
being out Of his service FOR extended
periods.
Correction Sought
'"To correct the present INEQUALITIES 8
of service and rates, as we'll as to pre-
vent the dangers of monopolistic ad-
vantages, the following recommended
tlons are made:
81. That the government acquire all
cars used for the transportation of
meat animals and that such ownership
and operation be declared govern
ment monopoly, or that such cars be
owned and operated by the railroads
under government license regulation.
SO. That tke government ACQUIRE all
refrigerator cars and all necessary
equipment for their proper operation,
and that such ownership and operation
be declared government monopoly, or
that such cars and equipment be owned
and operated by the railroads under
government license regulation"
Moses Amendment Lost
BY unanimous vote the committee at
night session rejected the Moses
amendment, which would extend the
licensing provisions of the Kenyon bill
to cover all enterprises doing any in
terstatc business without regard to
commodltles or circumstances under
which the business operated.
The committee was asked by L. D. NJ.
weld representing Swift & Co., to day,
to disregard evidence gathered bv the
Federal Trade Commission as basis for
legislation for the regulation of the
packers.
"Thc Federal Trade Commission re-
port and the testimony before this
committee of Commissioner Colver
contains so many inaccuracies and so
many false conclusions that it cannot
be relied upon as the foundation for
such radical legislation" Mr.. Weld
asserted. "Fhc evils the proposed legis-
.atlon plans to cure simply do not ex-
"What would be the object of the
Federal Trade Commission in mis-
representing you?' Senator Harrison,
Democrat, Mississippi, asked
II don't care TO go into that"
I'D like to know" insisted Senator
Harrison.
"What could have been the motive
of the Secretary of Agricuturc,' asked
Senator Kenyon, Republican, Iowa, ain
issuing his statement recommending
Federal control of the packers? Why
should he give wrong report?o
81 don't know" Mr.. Weld confessed.
wv hat motive could the President
have had in asking the Federal Trade
Commission to investigate the pack
crs ~ Senator Kenyon pressed
hat IS easier to answer There has
been and is prejudice against the
packers. There is an impression that
We are in collusion. Such an impression
mas existed for twenty years, and the
packers up till recently have never
tried to set things straight SO much
was SAID that the President naturally
said: Let's investigate this thing"
Mr. Weld said the packers have now
embarked on a campaign to clear awav
public ignorance of their business
Senator Harrison asked if there was
an agreement among the packers to
share the expense of the ADVERTISING
campaign Mr.. Wells said there was
not.
"Do you follow the example of the
Democratic National Committees" SEN
ator France asked, "and give ADVERTISE
ments only to those papers that give
you commendatory editorials ?"
no. We try TO have our ADVERTISE
mcnts reach the largest possible num-
Der of people"
In attacking the evidence submitted
Trade Commission Mr.. Weld charged
that the commission had suppressed
certain papers found in the packers
vaults. and had published only those
that tended to support their conclu-
slons He said in some cases the COM
mission had made public only parts of
1 telegrams and suppressed other parts
that would have contradicted the i'm
preston it was attemrtinU TO crooto },