The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-23
HOUSTON URGES U. s.
CONTROL FOR MEAT
Regulate Packers, Get Less
Paternalism and More
Freedom. He Says.

DENVER. Jan. 22-Federal regulation
of the live stock and meat packing In
dustry was advocated to-day By Secre-
tary of Agriculture Houston in an ad-
dress before the convention OF the
American National Live Stock Associa-
ton In session here.
i've got beyond the point Of arguing
about regulation of stockyardS We do
not want the distribution OF meat. from
the time production Is planned on the
range until the finished product is de-
livered to the consumer. left in the
ands of a few men," he said. The
packers tell US that they are more EN-
Client and can do this work better than
any one else. but that is what pater-
nalists always have said. For my part
want less Of paternalism and more
freedom"
Increase in Population.
Mr. Houston's address was heard by
the Wyoming and Colorado legislatures
which attended to-day's session. He
estimated that within twenty years the
population OF the United States will
increase 100000, and said the stock
raisers must devise means OF supplying
this increased population.
For the coming year the Secretary
estimated that wheat production would
be from 1000 100000 to hoo. 900 900
bushels and placed the probable domestic
consumption at 500. 100000 bushels. The
demand from abroad. he said. was
problematical and although the Govern
ment might not lose anything because
OF the maximum, wheat price guarantee
II probably would have to pay out OF
the Treasury from $500, 100000 to 5000
900. 900 20 meet the guarantee. Con-
tinuing the Secretary said:
THE city people who keep talking
about the back TO thet(arln movement
and urging US to force increased pro-
duction so as to lower prices. must get
II into their heads that people are going
TO farm just as long as farming pays.
Farming must make a reasonable profit.
do not mean that unreasonable prices
must be obtained. but farming must be
conducted on a business basis
Prices Are ProbIematicaI.
The world markets, Mr.. Houston said.
probably would keep prices on remu-
rerat!ve basis next year. but he could
make no forecast.
Mr., Houston urged an elastic classh-
cation OF the public lands so as to make
them available for grazing purposes I'M
der the permit system similar 10 that
used IN the national forests.
Senator John r. Kendrick Of Wyom-
ing explained his bill for the regulation
OF the packers and stock yards. He
said that the fve big meat packing
firms OF the United States had such a
control over both the producing and the
distributing markets that they have the
power ito commit all the abuses with
which they are charged, and more" re-
CARELESS OF whether there is an actual
combination in that their representa-
tives meet regularly to agree on prices
The Senator. addressing the American
National Live Stock Association conven-
ton. described a bill which he introduced
10 regulate the meat industry. and said
IT ought to be possible to bring about n
free market that would make it possible
for both producer and packer and con-
sumner to work prohtably together.
1T Is perfectly obvious" he told the
convention. that the packers absolutely
dominate the meat industry OF the coun-
try"
with all the interests involved and
under the circumstances which surround
the business II would be difficult for them
to do otherwise than TO work in unison,
and II is scarcely necessary, it seems to
me, to attempt to prove that the packers
agents meet daily or weekly or monthly
TO determine prices.
"My bill makes provision that will
compel the packers to dispose OF their
ownership of the stockyards. Just as n
few years ago Congress compelled the
railroads 10 surrender the ownership of
coal mines. 1t further provides that re-
frigerator cars shall be subject to the
interstate commerce act in the came
manner that all other cars and telephone
facilities are subject 10 IT,"