Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-23
Says There Is Nothing
\ Wrong With Packers,
But With Public.
LAWS NOT NEEDED
If LEFT ALONE
Remedy lnhamsd Public Mind and
Swift Declares Legislation Would
Not Be Rsquirsd-0sniss Statements
Emanatine From Federad Trade
Comn,ission-MeyerA Attacks Legality
Of Pending eill.

ashington, Jan. 23.-TestifyinC
before the house committee on inter =
state and foreign commerce today
Louis F.. Swift, president OF Swift &
Co. entered a long series OF denials
to statements emanating from the
federal trade commission.
Mr.. Swift asserted that such lcSis-
iation as is proposed in the Sins and
kendrick bills would cripple The o,c:>-
ing house industry. He assaiied the
report Of the federal trade commission
as grossly unfair. He said that the
hearings conducted for the commission
by Francis J. Heney we're one sided
in that the packers were not allowed
10 answer any of the allegations made
against them.
The witness charged that after an
investigation of over year the COM
mission was unable to deny that the
profits Of the packers are so small
that they could be wiped out without
effecting the price of live stock or the
price of meat by more than fraction
of cent per pound.
This profit. continued M. Swift.
"huctuates from week to week and
often there comes loss. During
twenty lone weeks Of the year ending
June 30. 1918, for example, Swift &
Co. either made no money at all or
suffered an actual loss on its beef
operations"
No Combination. He Says.
The witness denied with vigor that
there was any combination OF pack
ers and asserted that II there were
| it. could not prevent losses.
T.rhe only thing that Ia wrong with
the packing; business is the public i'm.
preston thAt something ~ wronS.'
said Mr.. Swift. III that impression
which has been created by misstate-
ments and the Inflammation OF public
prejudices. could be remedied. thu
need for ell this legislation also woult
be remedied."
Witness said that his company
built refrigerator cars because the
| railroads would not and that Of the
1000 of these cars owned by Swift &
Co.. 90 per cent were below their re-
auiremcnts. They were operated al
loss, he said. He had no objection
| to government purchase Of them il
adequate service were guaranteed.
Meyer Attaeke Council.
Levy Meyer. counsel for Armour 4
| Co. today detailed to the house inter-
state commerce commission provisions
| of the pending bill for government
control OF the meat packing industry
which. in the opinion Of the packers
are unconstitutional.
Louis F. Swift president Of Swift
e. Co., followed Mr.. Meyer on tho
stand.
Methods Of the federal trade com
mission in conducting its meat pacl;-
ing inquiry were attacked at today
hearing of the house interstate com
merce commission at its hearing t(
regulate meat industry.
! Given No Hearing.
Levy Mayer counsel for Armour
Co., was on the stand discussing tho
constitutionality Of the bill on the com
missions inquiry.
| when the federal trade commission
| took testimony and found a verdict o
guilty against the packers, do yo,
mean to say your clients were giveI
| no CHdlCc W IcPiS p'S'N'
tative Sanders, of Louisiana.
None whatever" Mr. Mayer said.
You don't mean to say that wheI
a witness took the stand to testif,
against your clients YOU were not al
lowed to question him."
Il was not allowed to participate II
the hearing at all.'
do YOU mean to say the trade com
mission undertook to investigate th'
industry without giving the industry ;
chance to present its side?'
Absolutely none. made three trip
to Washington to plead for the oppor
tunity but they refused and gave NJ
reason"
'Tt Is the most remarkable thing
ever heard Of in my life" Mr.. Sander
remarked.