The Washington times., 1921-01-24
Bitter Fight Under Way on
Measure for Federal Con-
troll of Industry.
PARTIES SPLIT OVER ISSUE
House Expected to Let LegisIa-
tion Die II Successful in
Upper Branch.
BY j. BART CAMPBELL,
international News Service.

Party lines were wiped out in the
Senate today when final considera-
ton was begun at last of the long
pending Gronna "K. X" bill to place
the meat packing industry under the
control of Federal Livestock Com
mission
Republican and Democratic Sen
ators were lined up against the bill;
Republican and Democratic Sem
ators stood together in support of 1t.
The end of the Senatorial battle,
of which the "Big Five" packers
Armour, Swift, Morris, Cudahy, and
WilsQn-have been the storm-center
for Several years, will come late
this afternoon, when, by unaninous
consent, the Senate will vote finally
upon the bill.
CLOSE VOTE EXPECTED.
Z Senator Curtis of Kansas. the Re-,
publican whip" among whose duties
it is to approximate as nearly as
possible the amount ~of support or
opposition prospective legislation is
likely to receive, predicted the vote
on the bill would be "close."
Supporters of the bill declared it
would pass; it's opponents expressed
equal confidence in their ability TO
defeat 1t.
In anticipation of a renewal Of
the debate, for and against Govern
mental control Of the packing indus
try. which for several years has
filled many pages Of the Congress
rional Record, the Senate met at 10
o'clock this morning, or two hours
before the customary noon hour.
CHOKE OFF DEBATE.
At 2 o'clock debate was by agree
OF the Senatorial discourses which
wer erenewed at 10.
The atmosphere in and about the
Senate chamber was tense as the time
intervening between the hour for the
final vote was consumed by speech
making. Senator Smoot had in readi-
ness a sheaf of amendments to the
bill. Senator Sterling, Republican, of
South Dakota, planned to urge as
substitute his bill transferring con-
troll of the packing industry to the
Federal Trade Commission instead of
TO the Live Stock Commission pro-
posed by the pending measure.
Senators Kenyon and Kendrick,
Democrat, of wyoming, joint authors
originally Of the proposed regula-
tory legislation, which was whipped
into shape by a majority Of the Sen
ate Agriculture Committee, and Is
now known as the Gronna TX. X"
an
North Dakota, being the committee
chairman, were in their places on
the Republican and Democratic sides
respectively. They Joined with Gronna
in urging the passage of the bill.
Arrayed against them were Smoot.
Fernald, of Maine; sherman, cf llli-
nois, and other senators equally in
sistent IL should not be passed.
The lines of conflict were tightly
drawn. The galleries were packed in
anticipation of the verbal exchanges
and parliamentary maneuvers, the
adoption and defeat of amendments
proposed. which marked the final
showdown in one of the most bitter
IN waged contests in the eventful
legislative history of the Senate.
HOUSE MAY KILL TT.
Should the bill be passed IL will go
10 the House, where there is no chance
of its emerging from the legislative
Jam In which that body, like the Sem
ate, is caught. IL will be one of the
inheritances of the new administra-
tion and the new Congress, and its
opponents predict IT will never be-
come n law In its present form.
The Federal Trade Commissions re-
mort OF the packing industry Is ere
rlete with inaccuracies." contradic-
lions, and misconceptions" Smoot de-
Jared in voilng his opposition to the
bill.
The commissions Investigation OF
alleged attempts by the big Ave"
hackers to manipulate" Nhe live stock
market and crush competition in food
atuffs" was closed without the pack
ers being given "fair and impartial
opportunity TO present their side OF
the controversy" Smoot said.
There is already mass of lcgis-
lation on our statutes ample to cor
rect any OF the evils in restraint
OF trade charged against the pack
srs. ~ they really axist. without
Congress being asked TO enact sucn
radical legislation as we hsvo pro-
pssed In this bill" smoot continued.