The Washington herald., 1921-08-14


enterprise depends in a large upon the eff
cheney and fairness with which each party to it per-
forms his function, enlightened selhshncss, in the
absence of higher motive, should lead to work
together much closely than in the past.
Now. il there is to be cooperation OF the right
every party this business it the others
discharge his function intelligently. economically.
seasonaby. and with due regard to the interests of
all The producer must constantly strive to improve
the quality Of his stock and adapt it to the demands
of the consumer he practice the efficient and
economical methods OF grazing and feeding: he must
adjust his marketing. far possible to the needs
Of the market He cannot fairly complain Of the
unless he does what is fair to expect OF him.
Needs of Railroads.
6ST~HE railroads must be prepared to
Il stock promptly and expeditiously, avoiding
delays which cause shrinkagc and loss from which
no one benefits. And especially they must move
both the livestock and meat products at the
lowest possible rates consistent with good service
and having in mind in fixing these the essential
character of the industry and the imperative need of
maintaining it.
"Thc stockyards people must maintain facilities
fully adequate to the prompt and comfortable han
ding of the livestock, and charges greater than
is necessary to maintain such equipment and yield
fair return upon the necessary investment.
1.-THE commission merchants. charged with the
sale Of livestock which once it reaches them can
neither be returned held for than day or
two at most. have particularly responsible and del.
icate duty to perform as the agent of the owner.
"The function performed by the packer is clearly
the most important we follow the stock along
its way from the producer to the consumer, and also
ne has the most difficult task to satisfy all parties
at interest. In times past perhaps the majority of
producers have been disposed to look upon the pack
err as furnishing the ultimate market for their live
stock and have, therefore, held him responsible for
the price paid. especially when that price lower
than the producer thought he ought have. The
consumer, the other hand, has been accustomed
to look upon the packer as the original source of
supply and therefore, has held him responsible both
for the healthfulness and quality of the meat and
for the price WE'LL and especially when the price
has been high. Neither producer consumer has
always fully recognized the packers true function
which is that of manufacturer whose, raw material
is livestock and whose finished products meat and
its byproducts edible and nedble. and whose prices,
both the prices he pays and the prices he receives
necessarily governed by supply and demand which
he neither control nor anticipate with certainty.
AS manufacturers the packers, especially those who
handle such large percentage of livestock, have
attained degree of efficiency which long has
manded the admiration of the business world. Such
criticism has upon them has grown out Of
the fear that the concentration of such large and
essential business in few hands gives dominance in
the business which be, and which some people
believe in times past has been, exercised to the injury
of the other parties to it.
,"The retailer handles the meat in small packages
and deals direct with the consumer. Upon the eff
cheney with which he conducts his business and the
fairness with which he adjusts his prices depends
very greatly the welfare of the entire industry. He
can do much to influence consumption. He has reia-
lively little money invested and turns it rapidly
with small chance of loss il he uses good business
sense in extending credit. III his prices do not
spond promptly the fluctuations in wholesale prices
which in turn governed by the fluctuations in
livestock prices the producer loses the benefit of that
increased consumption to which he is entitled when
prices are unusually low and which is the logical
for these low prices