The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-29
PACKER BILL
ADOPTED
Provides for Federal Regulation
of Meat Industry

Washington, Jan. 24.--By a margin
of thirteen votes, the senate late to-
day passed the long fought bill for
federal regulation of the meat packers
and other agencies of the livestock
industry.
The vote was 46 to 80 and the leg
iSlatlon, the center Of bitter contro-
versy for a decade. now goes to the
house with it's supporters hopeful of
final action during the present ses-
sion of congress. A special rule to
expedite house action is to be sought.
Partisan division in the senate was
lacking, but most Democrats sup
ported the bill, while majority of
the Republicans opposed it. The party
lineup was eighteen Republicans and
twentN-Cight Democrats for passage.
with twenty-threc Republicans and
ten Democrats against.
All fundamental features of the
Legislation rs presented by the agri-
culture committee as a substitute for
the original Kenyon -Kendrick bill
were retained by the senate. The bill
would create Il federal livestock COM
mission of three members appointed
by the president to have jurisdiction
over the livestock industry This
commission woulI have power to is
sue orders, collect and disseminate in
forEmuon, have access to packers
books and have general supervision
over packers, StockYards, commission
men and similar agencies. Review
| of the livestock commission orders
would be provided by the bill which
also prescribes rules for conduct of
the packing business and stipulates
against monopoly, unfair trade prac-
ticcs, engaging in unrelated indus
tries and other similar acts.
Voluntary licensing OF packers also
is provided, an attempt by Senator
Pomerene, Democrat, Ohio. to elimi-
nate this feature having been defeat
ed today As to "a.
Only two important amendments
were adopted by the senate before
passing the bill. One by Senator
Wadswoith, Republican, New York
would include horses. mules and goats
within the operations of the bill al
though horse and mule mark cts
would be excluded from the proposed
federal supervision.
Another amendment, by Senator
pitman, Democrat, Nevada, would cx-
empt all persons whose chief business
is livestock growing or production of
agricultural products from the bills
provisions. The authOc declared that
the Legislation should not extend to
small stock growers who operate their
own feeding yards.
Other amendments adopted includ-
ed one by Senator Borah, Republican,
Idaho, providing that all proceedings
of the livestock commission should
he open to the public. and an amend
ment by Senator Pomcrene, Demo-
crat, Ohio, declaring that upon en-
actment OF the bill all supervision
of the federal trade commission over
the livestock industry should be
terminated and transferred to the
! livestock commission.
| Friends of the bill succeeded in
wthstanding virtually all other revis-
! ions proposed, and also defeated a
motion to recommit the bill TO the ag-
| riculture committee. An amendment
| by Senator Hitchcock. Democrat, Ne
braska, proposing that packers give
Il weeks notice of bids and prices
| for livestock was lost, 20 to s. The
author said it was designed TO sta
1lilize the market.