648 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



fusal of the traders to continue in business until the dispute was settled. 

 Thru the intervention of representatives of the Bureau of Markets, the 

 matter was arbitrated to the satisfaction of both parties. It was esti- 

 mated that tliis tieup was resulting in actual money loss to shippers of 

 several thousand dollars daily, as well as serious injury to the market. 



At one of the important eastern markets previous to the beginning of 

 this supervision work, all dead animals arriving with live stock ship- 

 ments automatically became property of the city and the shippers re- 

 ceived nothing therefor. Thru the efforts of our local supervisor, ar- 

 rangements have been made whereby the shippers of such stock will re- 

 ceive prevailing dead stock prices for same. 



At another eastern market, when our supervisor assumed his duties 

 there, he found that a buyer for one of the packers was doing all the 

 weighing at one of the scales. Of course, he interposed an objection and 

 prevailed upon the stock yards company to provide a weighmaster who 

 would not be subject to so much temptation. 



It is thought that the beneficial service which it is possible for the 

 government to render at the live stock markets, has been fully demon- 

 strated, and it seems obvious that the public confidence which some 

 form of permanent government supervision would tend to promote, is 

 greatly to be desired. While it is not a part of my mission here to dis- 

 cuss legislation, it does not seem out of place to refer briefly to bills now 

 pending in congress in which the question of federal supervision is in- 

 volved. Much has been said, rumored, written, circulated and predicted 

 about the agreement recently concluded between the big packers and the 

 department of justice as a result of the efforts of that department to un- 

 pack the packers. It has been suggested that the impelling motive on 

 the part of the packers in entering into this agi-eement was to head off 

 the passage of this proposed legislation which provides for government 

 supervision of their business, and the central live stock markets. But 

 regardless of what might or might not have been the motive of the parties 

 to this agreement, and regardless of any shift which may take place in 

 •the ownership of stock yards, such a shift would not obviate the necessity 

 of competent government supervision of the live stock markets. The 

 feature of this proposed legislation relative to the ownership of stock 

 yards is of minor consideration when compared with the whole purpose 

 of the bills, and while the effect of the arrangement whereby the packers 

 are to dispose of their stock yards interests will doubtless be wholesome 

 and beneficial, my personal opinion is, that if proper authority is pro- 

 vided and a competent supervisory organization is established and main- 

 tained, the purpose of this legislation can be accomplished regardless 

 of who owns or controls the stock yards and the terminal facilities 

 therein; for I am not yet ready to concede that the United States govern- 

 ment is so subservient to the power of commercial influence that it can 

 not promote and enforce proper regulations when authorized to do so 

 under adequate legislative authority. 



At this juncture, it would seem greatly to the advantage of all the 

 factors involved in the live stock industry and interested in its future 

 welfare and development for some form of permanent federal supervision 

 to be provided. There is no doubt about the reassuring influence this 



