BUREAU OF MARKETS. 459 



clred and twenty-ono licensed stockyards were placed under the 

 supervision of the officers at the 20 central markets in whoso respec- 

 tive districts the}' were located. 



Complaints regardin*:^ various alleged violations of the regulations 

 have been heard and acted upon, and other specific matters requiring 

 adjustment by the local supervisors have been considered. The fol- 

 lowing instances afford an illustration of the numerous and varied 

 cases that have been dealt with. Adequate facilities and service have 

 been provided at a number of poorly equipped stockyards; new 

 scales, pens, chutes, and other equipment have been put in ; the clean- 

 ing of dirty pens has been made obligatory ; arrangements for load- 

 ing, unloading, and moving stock through stockyards have been im- 

 proved and additional yardmen have been employed; terminal rail- 

 roads have been required to furnish faster service, thus eliminating a 

 large amount of delay and shrinkage; unsuitable feed has been re- 

 jected; more accurate checks on weights of feed have been provided, 

 and feed charges have been reduced in some cases at the instance of 

 the market supervisors. 



The books of commission firjiis and stockyard companies at a num- 

 ber of the large markets were examined for the purpose of determin- 

 ing whether increased charges for handling live stock were justified 

 under the regulations, and a number of public hearings on tliis sub- 

 ject were held. The examination of these books disclosed several 

 instances of overcharges on feed accounts. One licensee made 

 restitution through the Bureau of Markets of more than $20,000 to 

 his consignors in amounts ranging from a few cents to more than 

 $900. Action in several other cases is pending: these involve over- 

 charges aggregating approximately $40,000. One commission firm 

 has been obliged to restore to consignors amounts aggregating over 

 $18,000 which it wrongfully withheld when remitting for sales, and 

 its license has been surrendered. The license of a firm found guilty 

 of stealing live stock has been revoked. Some of the live-stock ex- 

 changes have passed new- rules forbidding certain practices which are 

 contrary to the spirit of the regulations, such as the use by commis- 

 sion firms of " cripple buyers " as yardmen, and the giving of tips to 

 stockyard employees for special privileges in yarding stock. Par- 

 tiality in the assignment tcr commission men and traders of pens and 

 weighing arrangements has been eliminated at some of the im])ortant 

 markets. 



Besides the numerous specific cases which have been dealt with, 

 many irregular and injurious practices have been eliminated volun- 

 tarily by the companies concerned in order to comply with the regu- 

 lations. The mere presence of the supervisoi-s at the markets has 

 had a salutary effect. Numerous testimonials have been received 

 regarding the wholesome effect of this service and the ini]:>i'ovement 

 of business practices and conditions at the stockyards. 



A comprehensive investigation of the market classification of li^c 

 stock was made to assist in establishing uniform standards on which 

 to base price quotations at the various markets. The investigation 

 resulted in the adoption of a tentative classification for the guidance 

 of the supervisors and reporters at licensed stockyards. Preliminary 

 arrangements were effected for recording and reporting live-stock 

 and meat shipments from some of the principal market centers. 



