BUREAU OF MARKETS. 459 



drcd unci twciity-onc licensed stoc-kyard.s were placed under the 

 supervision of the officers at the ^O central markets in Avhose respec- 

 tive districts they were .located. 



Complaints regardinG; various alleged violations of the regulations 

 have been heard and acted upon, and other specific matters requiring 

 adjustment by the local supervisors have been considered. The fol- 

 lowing instances afford an illustration of the numerous and varied 

 cases tliat have been dealt with. Adequate facilities and service have 

 been provided at a number of poorly equipped stockyards; new 

 .scales, pens, chutes, and other equipment have been put in; the clean- 

 ing of dirty pens has been made obligatory ; arrangements for load- 

 ing, unloading, and moving stock through stockyards have been iui- 

 proved and additional yardmen have been employed; terminal rail- 

 roads have been required to furnish faster service, thus eliminating a 

 large amount of delay and shrinkage: unsuitable feed has been re- 

 jected; more accurate checks on weights of feed have been provided, 

 and feed ch.arges have been reduced in some cases at the instance of 

 the market supervisors. 



The books of commission firms and stockyard companies at a num- 

 ber of the large markets were examined for the purpose of determin- 

 ing whether increased charges for handling live stock were justified 

 under the regulations, and a number of public hearings on this sub- 

 ject were held. The examination of these books disclosed several 

 instances of overcharges on feed accounts. One licensee made 

 restitution through the Bureau of Markets of more than $20,000 to 

 his consignors in amounts ranging from a few cents to more than 

 $900. Action in several other cases is pending: these involve over- 

 charges aggregating approximately $40,000. One commission firm 

 has been obliged to restore to consignors amounts aggregating over 

 $18,000 which it wrongfully withheld Avhen remitting for sales, and 

 its license has been surrendered. The license of a firm found guilty 

 of stealing live stock has been revoked. Some of the live-stock ex- 

 changes have passed new rules forbidding certain practices which are 

 contrary' to the spirit of the regulations, such as the use by commis- 

 sion firms of " cripple buyers " as yardmen, and the giving of tips to. 

 stockyard employees for special privileges in yarding stock. Par- 

 tiality in the assignment to connnlssion men and traders of pens and 

 Aveighing arrangements has been eliminated at some of the important 

 markets. 



Besides the numerous specific cases which have been dealt with, 

 many irregular and injurious practices have been eliminated volun- 

 tarily by the companies concerned in order to comply with the regu- 

 lations. The mere presence of the supervisors at the markets has 

 had a salutary effect. Numerous testimonials have been receiA'ed 

 regarding the wholesome effect of this service and the improvement 

 of business practices and conditions at the stoclcA^arcls. 



A comprehensive investigation of the market classification of live 

 stock was made to assist in establishing uniform standards on Avhich 

 to base price quotations at the various markets. The investigation 

 resulted in the adoption of a tentative classification for the guidance 

 of the supervisors and reporters at licensed stockyards. Preliminary 

 arrangements were effected for i-ecording and reporting live-stock 

 and meat shipments from some of the principal market centers. 



