The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-04
OUTSIDE PACKERS
OPPOSE LICENSING
j. G. Dold Of Buffalo Suggests
an Authorized Conference :
Commission.
EXPLAINS WICHITA DEAL
Two. Witnesses Admit Meat
Men Paid Their Expenses
to Former Hearings.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3.---Heads of the
two largest packing concerns in the
United States outside of the big Five"
a scattering of stock raisers and meat
dealers, and a representative of the Chi
cago' Board of Trade were among oppo-
nents Of the Kenyon and Kendrick bills
for the regulation Of the packing indus
try heard to-day by the Senate Agricul-
tural Committee.
Senator Kenyon (Iowa), cross-exam-
tned w. ID. Reynolds and ]. II. Nail, two
Fort Worth, Tex, ranchers. bringing out
admission that they had been bald ex-
penses by the packers after appearing
before Congressional committees on a
previous occasion when legislation con-
sidered inimical by the big Five" was
under consideration. but both men in
sisted they did not expect reimburse
ment for this trip.
l.. F. Gates. for the Chicago Board of
Trade, gave the committee a specific
argument in opposition to the bills.
Calls Bill Too Broad.
This is law OF rules and executive
ORDERS" he said referring to tn Ken
yon bill, rather than a law OF specific
provisions. A change of executives
means a change In the requirements of
the law upon the citizen. Men cannot
tell from day to day what Is legal
under 1t.
ut is an instance, I think. Of the
habit of legislating blanket authority to
executive departments which grew UP
during the war.
IF the theory Of licensing business
operation Is good. why not extend It? II
the trouble is with the five large packers
why not treat them directly instead OF
extending control to an entire indus
try? Is not the Sherman law strong
enough to enforce competition? II not,
amend and strengthen 1t. Is not the
Federal trade commission law strong
enough to enforce square dealing? II
not, then strengthen 1t.
There are no conditions within my
knowledge which make It seem neces-
sary for the return to paternalism and
autocratic control. Legislation in times
or peace should be a serious attempt to
solve definite problems by definite
means"
j. c. bold Of Buffalo objected to the
licensing. but suggested an authorized
conference commission for the industry,
10 be made up of representatives of
the interests concerned. Chairman
Gronna read to him q section of the
Federal trade commission report on the
Industry. declaring that his house and
the Cudahy company OF the big Ave-
had an agreement to split even all hog
receipts at the Wichita. Kansas. yards.
where he has plant.
81 deny 1t" bold said, That comes
about because our plants there are of
equal capacity. II Cudahy goes in one
day and hogs the market he knows that
the next day we'll make him pay for
his stun. 80 We run along evenly"
The report says that you and Cud-
ahy also own the stock yards there,
Chairman Groppa pointed out. .ur
I'VE don't" bold replied. "Cudahy
does own some part. That came about
when the town of Wichita was trying to
get the Cudahy plant there They gave
him bonus and Cudahy was slick
enough to hold off until they gave him
an interest in the yards too. We got a
bonus, but didn't get the other"
Edward Smith. who runs a small
packing house at East Buffalo, asked
the committee to leave we'll enough
alone in the industry"
Blaney Denies Charge.
Chairman Gronna inserted in the rec
crd telegram from w. ". Blayney of
Denver denying that the Cudahy com
pany owned the packing house of which
he is manager. The charge was made
by letter to the committee this week in
connection with Mr.. Blayney's recent
testimony before the committee as an
Independent packer.
w. r. Sinclair who as manager of
Kingan & Co, indianapolis, with Mr..
Dold. head the two largest independent
packing concerns In the country, said
that there were mo conditions. in the in
dustry to Justify the passage" of the
Kenyon and Kendrick bills
1.-THE bills II enacted" said Mr.. Sim
clair. will necessitate considerable adj
dition to STATS. more particularly high
salaried and experienced men, not to
speak Of considerable lawyers fees, all
of which will also tend to increase over
head expenses, thus increasing costs to
consumers
Information regarding the reasonable
ness of the maximum profit limitations
fixed on the meat packing industry by
the food administration during the war
was sought to-day by the Senate. With
out debate 1t adopted a resolution by
Senator Norris. Republican (Neb.), ask
ing the Federal Trade Commission
whether it investigated the matter be-
fore July /. 1918. and II SO to report