Evening star., 1920-03-03
GROVER Of STOCK
BLAMES BIG FIVE
Tells Committee Their
Actions CurtaiIed
Output.

The big five" meat packers were
charged in testimony given before the
House agriculture committee TODAY hv
]. H. Montgomery of Basin. Wvo with
having reduced live stock prices and
driven growers out of business.
Mr. Montgomery described himself AZ
just an ordinary stock grower" He
deplored injunctions and Immunity
baths" in proceedings against the
packers
Thrive Iniunctfons,
The packers thrive on inJunctions."
he said. An injunction does not bother
them any more than insect powder does
a cootle The whole beef packing in
dustry should he put through a de-
lousing station"
Lack of action by Congress in pass
li.s legislation to control the packers and
lc'eHt court DEGREES are causing "A loss
OF confidence in both Congress and the
courts, the witness said
Producing BoIsh-vIsts.
These conditions are producing So
.iiiists. anarchists and bolsheyists
faster than the Attorney General can
said '
MT. Montgomery charged the pack
ers with efforts to influence stock
growers and prevent their protesting
against legislation for their controI
f"r years every grower has been
Hooded with packers Dronaeanda"
he said. Every log house in w
onins has enough to keep it's Ares
going
would Eliminate Riy Packers
Claiming that the packing business
as now conducted works an injury to
both the stock producers and the
consuming public. virtual elimination
Oh the big packers and substitution of
small. local, cooperative stock yards
and slaughter houses was urged by
Ed G. Lassater of Texas, speaking
FOR live stock growing organizations,
before the House committee on agri-
culture yesterday.
Transportation of cattle to the
packing centers and return shipment
OF meat to consumers involve an
economic loss, he said, which can be
eliminated only by legislation to re-
duce control of the big packers and
to foster small. cooperative agencies
widely distributed
Lassater also urged separation of
large stock yards from packer con-
troll. The yards. he said, should not
be owned by holding company, but
adjunct. Transfer Of packers stock
in the yards to other IN railroad in
terests, the witness <. 1t. would not
meet the demands of the live stock
producing interests.
Says Independents Are Hampered.
Independent stock yards and
slaughtering plants cannot be de-
veloped. Mr.. Lassater said. SO long as
Congress permits the large packers
to have such preponderant share
of business. Mere size of the freight
the big packers have to distribute.
the witness declared. obtained for the
packers special favors from the rail-
roads sufficient to shut off successful
competition.
Mr. Lassater opposed ownership Of
refrigerator cars by the packers. who.
he said. also should be divested of all
interest IN cattle loan companies.
we producers should not be limit
ed in our borrowing to the men who
buy our product" the witness de-
clared, and the consumers of the
country, also. cannot afford it,"
Makes Charge Against Hoover.
Lassater charged that Herbert
Hoover. when food administrator In
1917. suppressed a report by an ad-
committee justifying
prices charged for milk by dairymen's
organizations. MIR. Hoover decided.
the witness said. that public opinion
was adverse to the dairymen that
a report in their support would have
an unfortunate effect The former
food administrator also was said By
the witness to have refused to ex-
tend the food administrators con-
troll to cattle and other live stock,
except hogs.
Committee members objected to the
trend of the testimony, saying Mr..
Hoover ought to have opportunity to
answer Mr.. Lassater's charges.