570 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Other public stockyards to which such men hatl not been assigned 

 were handled by placing them under the supervision usually of 

 the nearest supervisor, who is required to, visit such markets from 

 time to time for the purpose of giving attention to Such matters 

 as require action. A plan is being developed whereby in markets 

 which require more attention than can be given on occasional short 

 visits, but which do not seem to require permanent supervisors, there 

 will be placed from time to time supervisors who will remain in the 

 markets for periods of a month or longer until the policies and re- 

 quirements of the Packers and Stockyards Administration are fully 

 understood, when such supervisors will proceed to other markets 

 for similar work. Through the medium of these local market super- 

 visors, an important policy that it was indicated in the debates pre- 

 ceding the passage of the packers and stockyards act should be car- 

 ried out is being put into execution. This involves the handling, 

 as far as possible, of local matters through informal adjustment on 

 the ground without the necessity for formal proceedings or reference 

 of the matters in question to Washington before action is taken 

 thereon. In this way unnecessary delays are avoided and meritorious 

 complaints receive prompt attention. 



As a means of coordinating the activities of the various super- 

 visors and giving assurance that they are proceeding in accordance 

 with a common and well-thought-out policy, every supervisor re- 

 ports to Washington once a week all of the activities in which he has 

 participated during the previous week, and a summary of these 

 reports is furnished to all the supervisors. There is also in process 

 of development a plan by which all of the markets will be handled 

 in four general divisions, each under a division supervisor who will 

 be responsible for the conduct of the work of the supervisors in his 

 division. This will be an additional assurance of uniform and 

 proper application of the provisions of the packers and stockyards 



act. 



In addition to the supervisors in the various markets, a field 

 organization of competent accountants is in process of development, 

 with the expectation that specially qualified men will be assigned 

 at central points from which they' can carry on the investigational 

 work of an auditing character which is necessary to supplement the 

 activities of the supervisors and to furnish the administration with 

 information required in order to determine facts as to the reason- 

 ableness and justice of rates and charges, as well as such informa- 

 tion as may be desired on the economic phases of the live-stock and 

 meat-packing industry that may be gathered from a study of the 

 financial and other records of persons subject to the act. Special in- 

 vestigators to handle more or less isolated questions that arise from 

 time to time will also be utilized. 



As a means of insuring a common understanding on the part of 

 all responsible members of the Packers and Stockyards Administra- 

 tion, including particularly the live-stock market supervisors, a meet- 

 ing of the supervisors was held in Washington during the week 

 beginning April 24, 1922. At this meeting there were considered 

 all of the various questions which had arisen in the experience of 

 the supervisors or the Washington office, and uniform conclusions 

 were reached as far as possible on the questions of policy. This 



