The Washington herald., 1921-06-05
House Of Representatives.

NJ
a FTER recessng from Friday until Tuesday in OBJ
~ servance of Memorial day, the house resumed its
stride and passed bill to regulate the packing in
dusry and bill to permit the merging of telephone
companies without violating the Clayton antitrust act
The packer regulation bill passed by the senate last
session but reached in the house before djourn-
ment The form in which il passed this session
sderaby different from that of the Kenyon Kendrck BILL
the former measure. -...-. ..' 3 H. p. @..
One provision in particular was made the target of
democratic members headed by the Texas delegation who
contended that was in violation of states rights This
provision lodges in the secretary of agriculture who is
designated to administer the measure power to override
laws and local regulations governing the packing
industry. .-.'zs 3.
y The bill follows closely the lines Of the interstate
act regulating the railroads. but its powers are
broader since they lodged in manthe secretary
of agrculture-instead of commission.
According the report of the agricultural committee,
the bill gives the secretary complete inqustorial visi-
toria supervisory and regulatory the packers,
stock yards and all activities connected Herewith; that
comprehensive and extends farther than
any previous law in the regulation of private business,
time of peace except possibly the interstate commerce act
A summary of powers conferred declares;
((THE secretary of agriculture is given jurisdiction
over the packers stock yards commission men,
traders buyers and sellers In the stock yard
thereby dispensing with the necessity of creating
MISSIONS bureaus etc. duplicating existing machinery He
has the power under this BILL gather and compile nfor
nation concerning and to investigate from time to time the
organizations conduct practices and management of the
packers business and stock yards including all transactions
in and about such yards by all persons dealing
at the yards He has the power require reports and
swers under OATH otherwise often he may deem
necessary concerning all such matters He has the power
by subpoena under the provisions of the bill to conduct
hearings require the production Of books papers, and
documentary evidence and to require the attendance of wit
nesses The secretary given the power, under the act
making appropriation for the current year. to be thus ap
Piled gather and promugate all such information in
cudng that relating to the demand, supply, consumption
and prices Of and the facts relating to the production
manufacture storage and distribution Of live stock and
live stock products In this bill he is given the further
power to prescribe the and form IN which the
packers stock yards and all other concerns operating in
said yards shall keep their books and accounts He is
given the power prevent packers stock yards companies
and all persons dealing in the stock yards from engaging in
unfair mustly discriminatory deceptive practices
devices He is given the power to regulate and prescribe
the practices the stock yards prevent abuses and
EPis.5 SIsffi,1E Il 'sg;;; s3,,%
FEES and charges for service IN the stock yards including
the ,fSes of commission, men ID ..." .. -
The bill co-ordnating soldier relief agencies provides
for the establishment in the treasury department Of
bureau to be known the veterans bureau the director