TWENTIETH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 649 



would have among producers that they were getting a square deal at the 

 central markets, and this is greatly to be desired regardless of the 

 truth or falsity of the suspicion which has prevailed among them in the 

 past that they were helpless victims of unfair dealing when they place 

 their live stock on the market. As to the cost of such a service, it can 

 be truthfully and conservatively stated that the actual money saving to 

 the shippers and producers of live stock which has resulted from our 

 supervision work since it started in July, 1918, has been several times 

 the cost of the service. 



Now that we have about reached the end of the great conflict which 

 for some time has disturbed the tranquility of nations and the business 

 progress of the world, there are vast problems of reconstruction to be 

 met by all lines of industry. The farmer has no small number of these 

 and probably the greatest among the problems which he has to face is 

 the one involving the future of the live stock industry. For several 

 years the increase in our production of meat producing live stock has 

 not kept pace with the increase in our population. This is not only 

 a problem of great concern for the live stock farmer but a serious ques- 

 tion of public concern in which all classes of people are interested. In 

 view of this and other considerations which have been already mentioned, 

 it seems that some legislation should be enacted to the end that industrial 

 peace may be restored to the live stock business, public confidence 

 assured, and distribution guaranteed on an equitable and economic basis. 



The Canadian government passed a law in 1917, known as "the Live 

 Stock and Live Stock Products Act," providing for the permanent super- 

 vision of its live stock markets thru its minister of agriculture. 



The leading European countries have for years exercised the closest 

 scrutiny over the marketing and distribution of their live stock. Now 

 that this country is a recognized leader in the family of nations in ques- 

 tions of international policy, it would seem only consistent with good 

 judgment that some form of federal supervision should be exercised 

 over the central markets thru which our most important food commodity 

 is distributed. This would be the fulfillment of a public obligation, al- 

 ready too long neglected, to that class of individuals upon whose industry 

 the whole world must depend for its food supply. 



Discussion. 



The Chairman: Jtist a minute, Mr. Bray! If there is any- 

 important question that is in the minds of you men, we will spend 

 just a few minutes on this — say, five minutes. We cannot take 

 up much time, but if there is anything that some member present 

 has in mind that he would like to ask Mr. Bray, you may do so, 

 as he directly represents the administration at Washington. 



Member : I would like to know if it be possible to give us the 

 names of those parties making those overcharges in feeds? 



Mr. Bray : The investigations of those cases haven't been 

 finally completed, and the department doesn't feel justified in ap- 



