Show MEAT I CARl CARlM CA I i M MONOPOLY NUr l i iI I i URE O F Federal deral Trade Board in 4 Report to Wilson Advises U. U S. S Control of Refrigerator Service Service i Aug 26 WASHINGTON Declaring that the step is isn n necessary essary to control the tile business o ofil the five largest packing com com- the federal trade commission commis commis- sl skin sion n. n in a special report to President Wilson recommends that operation of refrigerator refrigerator cars and of cars used for transportation of meat animals be declared de declared de- de red a government monopoly It recommends recommends recommends rec rec- further that the property concerned including icing stations and other facilities as well as the cars be acquired by the government and nd railroads railroads railroads rail rail- roads thereafter be licensed to own and arid operate them The The- big packers the report says now own 90 per cent of all the refrigerator equipment In the c country suitable for the transport of fresh meat The present countrywide system of or distribution by the five big packers has grown up from their control of refrigerator carlines canines In conjunction with various pools the report says in part put SUBSTITUTE FOR REBATES In turn the volume of traffic of the five packers has enabled them to tose secure se secure ure from the railroads advantages over competing shippers Formerly in inthe inthe inthe the shape of direct rebates these ad advantages advantages advantages ad- ad vantages are now usually In to expedited service to the b big g packers packers' cars in favorable fa favorable favorable fa- fa mixing rules which include all their diversified products and even many many articles not related to the packing packing packing pack- pack ing Industry by allowances paid to some of the big packers by carriers for fora a part art of the transportation service b by favorable arrangements and lease of stockyards by the railroads to some of the big packers and by the sale to the th th railroads of bumping posts manufactured manu manu- 9 fac by a subsidiary of one of the big 0 SMALL FELLOW HIT iThe The small independents independents' cars are misused m and diverted frequently being for extended periods in l out of service several instances as long as six months 1917 the cars of the big five and c th their ir subsidiary companieS companieS' maintained i a art ari average of miles per car car carper per da day while the average for cars of their competitors the independent packing companies was only miles The commissions commission's investigation of the th private car ownership has developed devel- devel I opi d the fact that while packers claim Io loses ses the report says a proper revision re revision revision re- re vision of their car accounts shows the cal cat operation has netted some profit TI TIlis is amounted to 68 per cent in 1912 54 34 3 per cent In 1914 and 43 per cent in 1917 D DANGER NGER OF MONOPOLY The prompt and efficient handling of the traffic in meats means and other per- per foods is of great public concern conce con- con cern ce n the report says in making the and it is also important important important im im- that all shippers should have eq equal al and adequate service The recommendations rec- rec are made to correct pr present ent inequalities of service and rates as Swell as to prevent the dangers of or m monopolistic advantages I |