Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-12
TARIFF DISCUSSED
BY SENATOR SMITH

Former Senator Hoke Smith, who
is in Atlanta for a short visit, Tues
day discussed Interestingly his eff
forts In behalf of southern newspa-
per publishers to prevent a tariff
upon white print paper, which has
been urged by certain paper manu-
facturers of the United States. Sena-
tor Smith recently appeared before
the finance committee of the senate
and made a strong argument on be-
half of the publishers.
IT regard the effort to put a tariff
tax on white print paper as en-
tirely indefensible," said Senator
Smith. 1.-THE newspaper men re-
member how, during the war, prices
of paper were pushed up to exorbi-
tant rates and how the newspapers
of the entire country suffered in
consequence. There has never been
a tariff on white print paper. 1t
was once placed upon white print
paper by the senate finance commit
tee at low rate, but was beaten
in the senate on the floor.
"Such a tax, putting up the cost
OF white print paper, interferes with
the liberal use of paper by the press,
adds to the price of advertising and
curtails reading matter. The adveas
tisementsy are essential now to the
restoration of normal business, and
the public is entitled to full informa-
ton through the press on all mat
tiers of interest.
eff the finance committee of the
senate is considering seriously put
ting such a tax, 1 have requested
that they give a hearing to the
newspaper publishers, both of the
Southern Associate Press and the
National Associate Press and I feel
sure they will do so. The tax must
be defeated. In the meantime urge
all newspaper managers to write
their senators and congressman to
actively oppose this tax"
Senator Smith will return We'd
snesday morning to Washington to
take part in an argument on Thurs
day before the inter-departmental
commission appointed by the attor-
ney general toNconsider and report
to him upon the advisability of mod
flying the consent decree obtained
against the five big meat packers, re-
straining them from invading Sthe
business of the wholesale grocery
merchants. Referring to this subject,
Senator Smith said:
During the winter of 1917-1S, the
president requested the federal trade
board to investigate certain charges
with reference to combinations af-
tecting foodstuffs, especially with ref
erence to meats. The federal trade
poard devoted many months to a
thorough investigation of the five
big meat packers. The evidence talk
n by the commission and their re-
prt fills five volumes Of printed
after. They contain much evidence
show that the five big meat pack
were in complete cooperation
d had brought about monopoly
The handling Of meat stuffs. They
- showed that the meat packers
practically monopoly in the
ding of classes of foodstuffs di-
y related to meats.
Branched Out
hey also Showed that the five
packers, in their mode of con-
ag business, Rad undue advan-
over other food sellers and
brought about a monopoly in
me of foodstuffs they handled,
hat they were broadening out
lie handling of what was term
lstuffs unrelated to meat prod
hat they had gone into the
goods and canned vegetable
busincsk;s that they had even taken
hold of irice, sugar and flour.
1.-The attorney general filed a bill
against 1.-THE five big meat packers
and theih allied and subordinate COM
panies Nasnd a consent decree was
taken int February, 1920, enjoining
the five big meat packers from han
ding any Of the foodstuffs called
unrelated foodstuffs.' This term was
applied to ietll lines of foodstuffs other
than meats and things of the same
class, such as fish, cheese, etc.
"This was consent decree and
the attorney general, acting for the
United States government, was con-
sidering, in the early fall, a modifi-
cation of this decree SO as to allow
the five big meat packers to handle
any kind Of foodstuffs they wished.
Danger of Monopoly =,
41l6 VI LIIC 1SOcI Oh II dlC
board and the charge made in the
original bill by the attorney gen
eral was that unless the five big
meat packers were enjoined from
handling the foods called unrelated
foods, they would, in a few years, ex-
tend their monopoly over all the food
which goes upon the American table
II was employed to assist y. Ed
gar atkins, the able counsel for
the bern Wholesale Grocers' as
So. h, I'd we made the Southern
Wholesale Grocers' location par
ty to bill filed by the United
States against the five big meat
packers. This stopped any consent
modification of that decree, because
the Southern Wholesale Grocers' as
ISOLATION, Of course, filed their in
PREVENTION for the purpose of re-
sisting a modification of the decree.
"At the hearing next Thursday
we will urge the commission not to
recommend that the attorney gen
eral seek a modification Of the de-
cree. Three weeks were given by
this commission to taking testimony
and the overwhelming proof, in my
opinion, before it was that any ex-
tension of the business Of the five
big meat packers would be injurious
to the public Welfare and damaging
to all those engaged in the lines
of food production which the five