The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-05-02
FARMERS NATIONAL COUNCIL URGED IN
VESTICATION OF DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

On March 1st, of this year tn,
Managing Director Of the Farmers
National Council wrote Congressman
Edward J. King, of Illinois, Chair
man of the House Committee on Fx
penditures in the Department of 40.
riculture, asking a thorough invest
LEGATION of that Department. The
letter said in part;
"On behalf of the Farmers Ma.
tional Council I respectfully re-
quest that the House Committee
on Expenditures in the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, of which
you are q Chairman, conduct a
searching inquiry into the ex-
penditurcs of the Department
and the administration thereof
= "The fact that the Agri-
cultural Appropriation bill is now
pending makes this inquiry of
immediate Importance. The to-
tai amount recommended in that
bill for the fiscal year, 1925. ex-
elusive of all special road items
aggregating nearly $18,OOOOOO.
is $39,058,513."
COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT
ANY BUREAU WHITEWASHED.
The Farmers Council requested
that the committee make q particu-
larry careful investigation of the
Packers and Stockyards Act Admin
istration since the pending approD1i-
alton bill carried an appropriation of
S552, $40, for that division. The Di-
rector Of the Council asked WHY the
Secretary of Agriculture refused to
compel the meat packers to install
uniform system of accounting, though
he had been repeatedly urged to do
so; why the Secretary refused to on
pose the Armour Morris merger. al
though requested to do SO bv the
Farmers National Council until the
Council started a vigorous CAMPAIGN
against it, when altogether too late,
the Secretary finally started to OBJ
pose it
He also asked that the Committee
investigate why the Secretary of Ag-
Iculture permitted Mr.. Chester Nor
MI, IN charge Of the Packers and
5tockyards Act Administration to in
stall Mr.. Charles y. Brand in charge
II the division Of Economies of Agri-
culture in the Packers and Stock
ards Act administration, when it
vas we'll known that Mr.. Brand was
tool of the meat packers in the
department. Of Agriculture in 1916
md used by the meat packers to try
G Kill the congressional investiga-
ion Of the meat packing industry
hat year The Farmers National
council asked also that certain 9th
r divisions of the Department of !
Agriculture be carefully investigated
IS follows:
l. The Crops and Livestock and
estimates Department of the Bureau
{ Agricultural Economics, recon-
1ended appropriation for which for |
925 was $4,000.
z. Marketing and Distribution of /
arm Prcducts-Division of the Bu-
eau Of agricultural Economics. the /
ending appropriation for which was
early $525,000, while the total re-
commended appropriation FOR the |
,ureau of Agricultural Economics
or next year is S4,2O2,364.
3. Activities Of County Agents.
4. Personnel and previous ex-
enence of men affiliated with the
administrative and executive staff of
le Department of Agriculture.
I'D COMES OFF ON PACKERS
ND STOCKYARDS ACT
DEMONSTRATION.
The Packers and Stockvards Act
as been illegally administered in
1me important instances. I hold
Lr. Chester Morrill, responsible for
lese illegal practices" charged Mr.
Ohm M. Burns, of the Solicitors Of
&c in the Department of Agriculture
7fcre the House Committee investi-
ating expenditures in the Depart-
ent of Agriculture. Mr.. Morrill,
In charge of the Packers
nd Stockyards Act Administration.
his first appearance Mr.. Burns.
larged live stock commission men
ere rObbing farmers of $4,000. 600
S12,OO0,000 year. In his second
1pearance he scored the South ST
aul Live Stock Exchange. Audi-
RS, he said were sent out bv the
ackers and Stcckyards Act Admin