The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-02-02
MEASURE TO REGULATE
PACKERS ADOPTED
Majority OF Democrats Favor
License Bill While RepubIi.
cans Oppose

Washington, Jan. 31.-By mar
gin of 13 votes the Senate late Mon
day passed the long-fought bill for
Federal regulation of meat packers
and other agencies of the livestock
industry.
The vote was 46 to 33, and the
legislation, the center of bitter con-
troversy for a decade, now goes to
the House, with its supporters hope
full of final action during the pres
ent session of Congress.
A special rule to expedite House
action is to be sought.
Partisan division III the Senate
was lacking, but most Democrats
supported the bill, while a majority
of the Republicans opposed it. The
party lineup was Is Republicans
and 20 Democrats for passage, with
23 Republicans and 10 Democrats
against.
All fundamental features Of the
Legislation, as presented by the Ag-
ricultural Committee as substi-
tute for the original Kenyon-Ken-
drick bill. were retained by the
Senate.
Federal Board Ordered
The bill would form a Federal
Livestock Commission of three mem
bers, appointed by the President, to
have Jurisdiction over the livestock
industry.
This commission would have pow
er to issue orders, collect and dis
seminate information. have access
to packers books and have general
supervision over packers, stock
yards, commission men and similar
agencies. Review of the Livestock
Commission orders would be pro-
vided for by the bill which also
prescribes rules for conduct of the
packing business and stipulations
against monopoly, unfair trade
practices, engaging in unrelated in
dustries and other similar acts.
Voluntary licensing of packers
also is provided for, an attempt by
Senator Atlee Pomerene, Of Ohio,
Democrat, to eliminate this feature
having been defeated Monday 43 to
"a.
But two important amendments
were adopted by the Senate before
passing the bill. One, by Senator
James w. Wadsworth, Jr., of New
York, Republican, would include
horses, mules and goats within the
operations of the bill, although
horse and mule meat markets
would be excluded from the propos-
ed Federal supervision.
Another amendment, by Senator
Key Pitman, of Nevada, Democrat,
would exempt from the bills provi-
sions all persons whose chief bust
ness is livestock growing or produc-
ton of agricultural products. The
author declared that the legislation
should not extend to small stock
growers who operate their own
feeding yards.
Other amendments adopted in
cluded one by Senator William E.
Borah, of Idaho, Republican, pro-
viding that all proceedings Of the
Livestock Commission should be OPP
en- to the public, and an amend
ment by Senator Pomerene, declar-
ing that upon enactment OF the bill
all supervision Of the Federal Trade |
Commission over the livestock in
dustry should be terminated and
transferred to the Livestock Com
Backers of the bill succeeded in |
withstanding virtually all other re-
visions proposed, and also defeated
a motion to recommit the bill to the
Committee.
An amendment by Senator Gil
bert M. Hitchcock, of Nebraska,
Democrat, proposing that packers
give a weeks notice of bids and
prices for live stock, was lost, 70
TO 8.
The author said it was designed
to stabilize the market.