New-York tribune., 1921-01-25
Senate Passes
Bill tOContrOl
Meat Packers
Continued from first page


to 81. Senator Kenyon took the posi-
tion that this did not weaken the bill,
and he said he did not consider there
was much weight in statements that
this amendment would enable packers
to camoufage themselves under the
business of farming or livestock rails
ing.
Senator Kenyon declared the bill had
oeen passed despite the utmost efforts
OF the packers, through their agents
and representatives here, to defeat it
and that it was significant of the fact
that there are certain lines of indus
try Important to the public interest
which Congress believes should be reg
ulated.
Discriminatory Practices Barred
AS the bill stands, it is entitled "a
bill to create Federal livestock: COM
mission, to define it's powers and duties
ana to stimulate the production, sale
and distribution of livestock and live
stock products and for other purposes"
Inc commission is to have three men,
bers, at salary of $4,000 each. 1t
is to have all the powers and duties
heretofore exercised by the bureau Of
markets IN the Department of Agricul-
cure, SO tar as those duties relate to
acquisition of dissemination of nfor-
nation about the livestock industry. It
IS required to obtain exhaustive infor-
nation about that industry.
The most vital features of the hill
are found in Title III, wherein it is
made unlawful for packers to engage
IN unfair. or discriminatory practices,
to apportion or divide business or tef,
ritotrIy, to engage directly or indirectly
IN the business of purchasing. mann.
tacturlng, storing or selling food
stufts other than livestock products
where the effect will be substantially
10 lessen competition, to enter into
coAiolnatlon or agreements with other
packers regarding sales, prices or an
portionment of territory or consn;re
or agree with other packers to prevent
any person carrying on similar or
competitive business.
furthermore, after Two wears. the
packers are required to strin them
selves Of ownership of the stockyards
or interest therein.
unreasonable charges, rates and
practices are prohibited. Complete pub
hclty and uniformity in accounting are
among the other requirements. Penal
ties of both fines and Imprisonment are
provided. a. 9
Primarily, the bill is aimed at the
Big Five" packers and one of it's most
important results, if it becomes law.
viii be to drive them out of the bust
ness OF canning fruits and vegetables
and otherwise doing what amounts al
most to general wholesale grocery
BUSINESS.
The packers, in fact, charge that one
CT the most potent influences leading
to the agitation for legislation has been
the National Association of Wholesale
Grocers. The "Big Five" packers have
been sharply criticized in reports of
the Federal Trade Commission. Both
the Senate and House Committee on
Agriculture have gone into the opera
tlons of the packers at length in hear
ings on the bill.
To-day's discussion lasted from 10
O'Clock in the morning until in the
afternoon. Senator Smoot, Senator
Warren and Senator Edge were leading
speakers against the measure. Five
minute speeches occupied much of the
afternoon.
In the course of the day Senator
Warren read resolutions adopted by the
glslature of his state against the
bill. This caused sharp clash be-
tween him and Senator Kenyon, who
eohuuSCeo IIie campaign Tor the meas
ure on the floor Senator Kenyon called
attention to the fact that all the stock
men in the Senate and House of the
Wyoming Legislature voted against
the resolution. He denounced the reso-
lutions as "a piece of cheap politics.
against Senator Kendrick, of Wyoming
who was working for the legislation
He asserted Swift G. Co. had sent a
man to Wyoming to take charge of the
movement to get resolutions.
Sherman Attacks the Retailers
Senator Sherman, of Illinois, in .
scathing speech, attacked the support.
crs of the bill He told of exorbitan,
profits Of 100 to 140 per cent by retail.
ers on meats.
"Why hasn't somebody complained
here about the retailers?" he asked
The retailers are a little too mum
Gus for you gentlemen to tackle. That's
the reason you never go after the re-
tailers."
Senator Ransdell Of Louisiana, want.
ed to know if a business was private