670 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



without invidious implications so far as other markets not men- 

 tioned by name are concerned, that the St. Paul market is placing 

 itself on a high plane from the producers' standpoint. 



PRICE DISCRIMINATION CHARGED AGAINST PACKER BY 29 CREAMERIES. 



The Federal Trade Commission transmitted to the Secretary of 

 Agriculture a file of petitions and protests from 29 creameries in 

 the State of Washington, alleging that in the purchase of butterfat 

 one of the large packers was using an unfair method of competi- 

 tion, namely, price discrimination against competitors. As a result 

 of this complaint, an exhaustive investigation was made in detail at 

 all the principal points affected by the complaint, but the investiga- 

 tion disclosed that the charges made in the complaint were not sup- 

 ported, and each of the 29 complainants was advised that the evidence 

 furnished by the complainants, together with the evidence procured 

 by the administration, was insufficient to justify the issuance of a 

 complaint charging a violation of any of the provisions of Title II 

 of the packers and stockyards act. 



TRADE PRACTICES COMMITTEES. 



At several of the markets committees have been organized com- 

 posed of representatives of the various interests at the markets, the 

 functions of which are to consider and devise proper rules or stand- 

 ards of business conduct that all interests should be willing to abide 

 by, to recommend constructive action to local authorities, and to 

 lend such assistance to local authorities, organizations, and the Fed- 

 eral Government in carrying out these standards as it can. As an 

 example of the personnel of these committees, it may be noted that 

 at one market the following factors are represented thereon : The live- 

 stock exchange, the traders' exchange, the cooperative livestock 

 selling agencies, the stockyards company, the packers, and the live- 

 stock market supervisor. 



As may be seen from the above reference to the duties of this com- 

 mittee, while it does not administer discipline, such committees are in 

 a position to render valuable service to the industry. 



SCALES AND WEIGHING. 



On account of the importance of weighing in the marketing of 

 livestock, special attention is being given to the accuracy of scales 

 and the integrity of weights obtained, and in order that the adminis- 

 tration may give this important phase of marketing the kind of 

 attention it merits, a livestock weight supervisor was appointed early 

 in this fiscal year, whose duty is to give special attention to the matter 

 of scales and weighing. C. A. Briggs, formerly with the Federal 

 Bureau of Standards, was appointed for this work because of his 

 special qualifications as an engineer having technical knowledge of 

 and experience with heavy-duty scales and related matters. 



In many cases certain phases of the business appear to have been 

 largely affected by the unsuitable nature of the scales used and the 

 irregularities in the methods of weighing. Irrespective of the merits 

 of their attitudes, it is reasonably certain that some who have built 

 up their business, and who have become accustomed to the benefits 

 from irregular practices, will seriously contest anything which will 

 bring about a change. 



