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Star (Christchurch), Issue 12711, 5 August 1919, Page 4

The Federal inquiry into the meat industry of the United States, or the meat packing business as it is commonly termed by the Press, has created a desire on the part of interested Senators to secure the passage of legislation which could be relied upon to remove some of the disabilities under which it is alleged the public suffer through the operations of the “ Big Five.” Towards the end of June, according to files deceived by yesterday’s mail, three Bills were introduced in Congress to break up the alleged monopolistic control of the packers. Two of these Bills were on similar lines, their basic aim being to dissociate the operations of the big meat companies from food products other than meat. Under them the companies would he put under a Federal Licensing Committee, and the objects are fourfold, viz.:—(1) To remove the stockyards from th» control of the packers. (2) To limit the packers’ control over other industries producing unrelated food products- (3) To put refrigerator cars on the basis of common carriers and make them part and parcel of the carrying system of the country and subject to such rulings as are made from time to time to prevent unfair competition and combines under interstate commerce laws, (4) To establish throughout the country storage and marketing facilities that will permitcompetition with packers’ branch houses.

The other Bill provides for the appointment of a governmental administrator whoso duty it would be to see that the Federal license under which the packers would operate was not violated. The licensing system would he administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, who would have power to grant licenses and to revoke them, and any licensees engaging in unfair and discriminatory practices, apportioning sales and territory among themselves, or combining for the purpose of suppressing competition would be liable to a fine or imprisonment, or both. The cable has made no mention of any pro ceedinga in the Senate in connection with these Bills, but. that is not to be accepted as absolutely establishing that they have been either dropped or defeated. The food position is so acute in the United States, and there seems to be such a growing public demand for Federal in preference to State action, that the Government may contemplate measures for dealing with the question. Possibly the statement contained in the cable message that the commission’s report had been presented means something of the kind. The packers appear to bo in an impregnable but many strange and seemingly impossible happenings have been recorded in the world these last few. years, and the end in this direction is not yet.