Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-17
j. 8. SANCTION
IS AWAITED IN .
PACKER MERGER
Government Reserves
Decision in Proposed
Combine of Concerns.
Armour Takes Plan to
Washington; w 0 uld
Involve 5000, 900, 900.

Washington. Nov 16-Governor-
day with regard to the proposed con-
soiidation of Armour & Co. and Nor
ris 4 Co, two of the ''big five" Chi
cago meat packing concerns, which
was placed before them Wednesday by
J. Ogden Armour. 1t was Indicated
there would be no final opinion for
some days.
Meantime the various details of the
consolidation plan and its probable eff
feet on the industry as whole and
the producing and consuming public
were receiving careful study at the de-
partment of agriculture. Chester Nor
rill, assistant to Secretary Wallace,
who is in charge of the administration
of the new packers and stockyards
control act, held conferences with de
partment experts on marketing and
other related lines.
Mr.. Armour had expected an early
decision by the government. He had
half an hour conference with Presi-
dent Harding Thursday but declined to
talk about it and no statement regard
ing it was Forthcoming from the White
House SO far as was learned, Sec
retary Wallace had not taken up the
AEIlOuE IJidll Will Ill AIui hihb'
Daugherty Not Acting
Attorney General Daugherty was
confined to his apartment with slight
indisposition, but at the department of
Justice it was indicated that the ques
ton was not receiving immediate con
sideration since no plan in detail had
been submitted.
Officers of farm organizations in
t.tt VnYk
ments in connection with the proposed
consolidation. Gray Silver, for the
American Farm Bureau federation,
said the matter had been discussed
with officials Of his organization by
those interested as a matter of iufor
nation. He stated that the federation
had not asked for a hearing before the
department of agriculture but added
that this did not mean necessarily that
a hearing might not be requested
At the offices Of the National
Grange it was stated that no official
respecting the proposed
had been obtained
Benjamin G. Marsh. Of the Farmers
National council. announced that he
was writing to Secretary Wallace and
full information concerning the Armour
plan and suggested that there be more
of packer control through legislation
and less of packer control of the gov
ernment."
Would Involve S200000.000
While Mr.. Armour still declined to
discuss the projected acquisition of
Morris & 90. by the concern of which |
he is the head, information from other
sources was such that consolidation
would place Armour Il Go. in the front |
rank Of the big packing concerns. This
with its capital Of S1500O0, !
900 and capital assets Of S177 100000, |
has various packing plants in this
country as well as in South America |
and Australia. Morris & Co has half
a dozen packing establishments in the !
United States and distributing stations
in the more important cities in Europe |
and in Cuba It's capital is $4,000, |
900.
One immediate result of a merger
would be a general consolidation Of the I
facilities of the two companies and |
more particularly of distributing agen- /
'ies aud rolling stock. This. it was /
stated, would be in the interest of eco
nomlc operation. /