The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-05-02

! istration and found irregular prac.
tees, on the part of livestock com
mission firms in South st. Paul. The
Act placed upon the Secretary of
Agriculture responsibility to- carry
/ out the Act. Instead, the Packers
and Stockyards Act Administration
Of which Mr., Chester Morrill, is IN
direct charge turned over the gov
ernment's evidence to the South St
( Paul Live Stock Commission Elk
change as tribunal to determine
what action to take.
That tribunal fined some of the
Live Stock Commission firms, which
had been defrauding farmers and
/ temporarily suspended some. There
were irregularities including "lar-
ceny," Mr.. Burns stated, He ex-
planned, the bitterness of the fight
between the live stock commission
men, and the farmers cooperative or
ganlzatOins since $40,O00,OOO to $50
OOO,OOO year in commission fees
are involved, and it is a fight to the
finish between the old line commits
sion firms and the farmers coopera-
yves to see who shall control that
business.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AGAIN SIDING WITH PACKERS.
Since the Packers and Stockyards
Act became a law, the Chicago ex-
change, Mr.. Burns stated. has been
engaged in rendering a stoclzvards
service, collecting toll for "dockage"
and with the knowledge and ac-
qualscence of Mr.. Morril Final
ly the farmers ccOnerati1ae
got to secretary Wallace and
tod some one in the Adj
mlnlstration to handle the matter
The solicitor held that it fell within
the jurisdiction of the Secretary. The
Department asked that the matter be
referred to the Department of JUS
tlce, and there the matter SILENT for
a year and a half! Mr.. Burns stat
ed that there is a ridiculous provis- /
sion IN the Act that if the Secretary
Of Agriculture found that if tbe
L farmers Cooperatives or sales aoen- |
cles has absolutely robbed the pro
aucefs, taken his money and refused I
70 pay one cent back, and admitted !
Ine guilt, the Secretary would first
have tohold hearing and issue an or
DER TO cease and desist He asserted /
that there should be at least one
amendment to the act providing that
stealing should be made a felony and
that Whenever the Secretary finds
mat any person handling, as agent or
broker, livestock for another person
has sWindled his client out of money.
It should be an Offense or felony in
violation of the law of the United
States and it should become the duty
OF the Secretary to report the same
10 the Attorney General who should
prosecute in a Federal court. Mr..
burns pointed out the feeling in the .
Department Of Agriculture that if
you make good with the big central
organized livestock firms, they are
NE ones who can promote YOU
FARMERS COUNCIL
CALLS FOR SHOWDOWN ON
FAILURE TO ENFORCE LAW.
In his testimony before the House
Committee on Expenditures in the
Department Of agriculture, Benia-
mn Z. Marsh. Managing Director, of
he Farmers National Council, charg
I'd that the Secretary of Agriculture
must personally be held responsible
or the maladministration of the
ackefS and StockyaFdS Act, since
le knew the records of Mr.. Chester
lOrrill, and Mr.. Charles J. Brand,
When he permitted them to come in
0 the administration. He suggested
hat the Committee invite the Secre-
airy of Agriculture to come before
hem and state why he had not en-
Orced the law, and backed up his
harges of nOn-enforcement by ad- ,
MISSIONS from the Secretary, and Off
ial documents. He suggested also
hat the Secretary of Agriculture be
sked to state what contributions the ,
neat packers had made since the en- ,
ctment of the Packers and Stock {
ards Act to pay off the deficit of the
republican National Committee. At !
hat the fur flew and Congressman :
aust of Missouri moved to strike !
Ut that reference, and asserted the
director of the Farmers National +
'ouncil had not presented any evil 2