The Washington times., 1919-08-31
PACKER SAYS
PUBLIC HALTS
PROGRESS BY
SUSPICIOUS

CHICAGO, Aug. 31.-To meet the
challenges Of critics who assert meat
packers have attacked proposed leg
isIation without offering any con-
structive plan in its stead, Thomas
E. Wilson, president Of Wilson &
Co. and chairman Of the Institute
OF American Neat Packers, in q
statement to the public. proposes an
affirmative program and answers
charges OF, wrongs in the packing in
dustry.
Claiming that the packers have
been accused unjustIy OF opposing
all legislation concerning their in
dustry, Mr.. Wilson states they have
supported all measures Of a con-
struetive nature, that they have
done much toward encouraging the
extension OF powers Of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. and that they
have advocated measures relating to
the production Of live stock and the
marketing Of products.
Needs Of Packers.
The needs OF the packers, Mr.. Will
son states, are as follows:
1-An. accounting commission, COM
posed OF recognized, certified public
accountatnts, divorced from politics,
&c audit the packers books every
year and make public an understand
able report.
"a noupolitical inVestigative body
10 examine the meat industry, from
calf to steak, and give out facts as
certained without recommendation for
improvement
3-An advisory conference commit
tee. comprising both packers and pro-
ducers. with consumers and the Gov
ernment represented, 70 try to sta
bllize the relation between supply
and demand-thRt is, TO try to an
ticipate the demand for meat prod
uets and influence the production and
shipment OF live stock accordingly.
4-A definite determination as to
whether producers and other groups
are hurt or helped by packers inter-
ests IN stock yards.
Some special agency, composed
OF recognized economists, to report
on the causes OF the high cost OF liy-
ing.
Hurt By suspfeions.
The principal thing wrong with the
packing industry, il was stated, is
the general suspicion that something
IS wrong. The packers declare they
cannot serve the people as EEeIl when
they are suspected in advance, ac-
eussd without having offended. con-
demned before tried. and convicted
and distrusted at every turn.
what the meat packers most need.
it was stated, is a breathing spell,
an opportunity TO take stock Emerg-
ing from the war. they claim. they
were met with criticisms which they
we're forced TO meet, and they had
little opportunity to take account OF
themselves, to discover what had been
derelbped under forced draft. what !
should be discarded and what per
petuated, how their public relation
ships had been altered and how they
cooid be improved. how service might |
be cheapened and bettered.
Theories Tangled.
"Another hurtful thing" says Mr.. I
wilson's statement. "is the fsIIacious /
thinking with which present econom-
ic theories are entangled. Just now.
we are suffering from the high cost i
OF living. and we are turning to leg
isIatfve nostrums for relief. Wefare 4
about TO treat symptoms instead of /
causes.
-Some OF the proposals which /
have been made would serve only 20 /
aegravate- the ahIictiou- What the /
country needs is an economic physi-
clan who can distinguish between Il
the malsdy and its manifestations.
@The people, misled, have lost sight ]
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