TWENTIETH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 645 



this body which represents the live stock industry in this great agricul- 

 tural empire of the central west. 



While, as stated before, the authority under which this work is being 

 conducted is expected soon to expire and the funds provided to defray 

 the expense of the work will be soon exhausted, it has been learned through 

 the administration of this authority that there is a permanent service 

 which it is incumbent upon the federal government to render .to the live 

 stock industry by exercising some form of supervision over the business 

 transacted by the various factors at the central markets. It has been 

 demonstrated, too, that the various agencies engaged in the business at 

 the central markets are obviously benefited thru the exercise of a 

 federal neutral agency with authority to adjust irregularities which are 

 constantly coming up in the complex daily transactions of this great 

 industry. 



I feel it my duty to state, however, that in the central live stock 

 markets, the live stock exchanges, traders' exchanges, co-operative and 

 other organizations are doing commendable work in maintaining a high 

 standard of ethics and promoting honesty among those who are engaged 

 in the trade. I would not endeavor to minimize to any extent the benefits 

 which come from the existence of these essential factors and it is thru 

 co-operation with them that the government is enabled to secure the best 

 results. Their aid has been found helpful even in dealing with factors not 

 subservient to their authority and we have usually found them willing to 

 assist. 



It would be impossible to enumerate in detail the various adjust- 

 ments which have been handled in the administration of those duties. 

 A few representative instances, however, will acquaint you with some 

 of the things which have actually been accomplished thru the application 

 of this authority, and give some idea of the various abuses which the 

 government can and should regulate under the proper authority, by 

 exercising reasonable diligence. 



It will be remembered by most of you that early in the year 1918 

 the president appointed a committee to investigate conditions and rec- 

 ommend a policy to be followed by the government with reference to the 

 live stock and meat situation of the country. This committee consisted 

 of the secretary of agriculture, the secretary of labor, the food admin- 

 istrator, the chairman of the federal trade commission, and the chair- 

 man of the tariff commission. Among the recommendations made by 

 this committee was one to the effect that the government assume super- 

 visory authority under the food control act by licensing all stock yards 

 and all persons engaged in handling or dealing in live stock in or in 

 connection with stock yards. Pursuant to this recommendation, the pres- 

 ident issued a proclamation on June 18, 1918, which was supplemented 

 on September 6, 1918, providing for this arrangement as recommended. 

 General rules and regulations governing licenses were issued July 26, 

 1918, covering in a general way the practices which were considered con- 

 trary to a policy of right and justice. The secretary of agriculture was 

 charged with the administration of these regulations and the chief of the 

 Bureau of Markets was designated as the secretary's representative in 

 their administration. 



