PROCEEDINGS CORN BELT MEAT PRODUCERS' ASSN. 457 



/our organization taking a stand against the issuance of tax-free securi- 

 ties, and making a fight to have our state and federal laws amended so 

 as to stop the issuance of all tax-free securities, as they are drying up 

 the sources of taxation and annually increasing the burden of taxes upon 

 the common people, while the rich go Scot-free. This is a most vital 

 matter and should merit your most hearty support. 



Ship Subsidy 



We are again facing a demand that congress subsidize our merchant 

 marine. Without going into either the merits or demerits of a subsidy, 

 I will say I consider it a most dangerous precedent to establish. I be- 

 lieve we should face the matter squarely, and if we are true to the early 

 traditions of this association, we will pass a strong resolution opposing 

 the measure, and at once let the United States senate know where we 

 stand on the question. 



The Packer Merger 



During the past sixty days, much has been published about the pro- 

 posed packer merger, promulgated by J. Ogden Armour. We read much 

 in the press about Mr. Armour soliciting the approval of the various 

 "powers that be" at Washington for his merger, and just recently the 

 Secretary of Agriculture gave out a statement to the effect that the gov- 

 ernment, under the Packers and Stockyards act, is not given power to 

 prevent the merger, but neither approves nor disapproves of the consoli- 

 dation. 



Personally, I am opposed to the merger, and I find that this is true 

 of stockmen generally, as the general feeling is that competition in the 

 live stock markets at the present time is very mild, and that every big 

 operator that quits the markets reduces the competition in buying, and 

 places the market in the hands of fewer people, thus making it more 

 difficult for the farmers to secure fair and equitable prices for their live 

 stock. 



My observation of mergers in the past has led me to the conclusion 

 that they are not formed in the interest of the public, nor to benefit either 

 the producer or consumer, and I believe the packer merger, if consum- 

 mated, will be no exception to the rule. As I consider this of vital im- 

 portance to the live stock producers of the country, I believe this con- 

 vention should place itself on record in this matter. 



Live Stock Statistics 



The United States Department of Agriculture, through its live stock 

 statistical department or bureau, has adopted a plan of taking the live 

 stock census which, if the farmers will do their part and fill out the ques- 

 tionnaires sent them by the Department and return to the designated 

 office, will become of great value to the stockmen of the country, as they 

 will be able to get fairly reliable information as to the total number of 

 feeding cattle and hogs on hand at certain times in the year. 



Mr. C. L. Harlan, who is supervising this work, is with us and later 

 will explain their method and plans to the convention. 



