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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 10, 1919)
Thursday, July 10th, 1919 THE ALLIANCE (NEBRASKA) HERALD AN UNFOUNDED REFLECTION UPON LIVE STOCK COMMISSION MEN "THE PRODUCER" WEAKENS ITS OWN INFLUENCE FOR GOOD JJY INACCURATE AND UNFAIR STATEMENT IN THE INITIAL NUMBER. By John AY, Ttioituta "The Producer" is the tame of a new monthly periodical, the first number of which was Issued from the the publication office In Denver In June. ' . At the twenty-second annual con vention of the American National Live Stock Association, held at Den ver In January of this year, the Executive Committee was authoriz ed to start the publication of a paper. Pursuant to this action, the Ameri can National Live Stock Publishing Company was incorporated, and the necessary steps were taken to put Into effect the object of the resolu tion. " The first issue contains . a large amount of editorial and news mat ter that is interesting and valuable to live stock men. because of the high character which it is intended that this publication shall bear, it is all the more regrettable that a gross misstatement should ha crept into a leading editorial in the first num ber. Speaking of live stock commission men who overcharged their clients . on feeding charges, Tbe i'rooucer said: "Every commission firm in the k trade to a greater or less degree, aimed to secure a profit from this source of revenue." The principal criticism that5I have to offer on the above quoted state ment is that it is ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE. Unprincipled and dishonest men sometimes get into the live stock commission business, as well as in all other kinds of business, but that does not Justify a wholesale condem nation of men engaged In that busi ness. There Is probably, not another business" organization that more strictly requires square dealing on the part of its members than the live stock exchanges ta the open markets In this country. - rniinwine is the editorial in The Trnrtiippr from which the above quotation is taken: Overcharges on Feed Rills. Tha fniinwine statement han been Issued by the Chicago Live Stock Ex change: The Chicago Live Stock Exchange has expelled Messrs. Lawrence i Dnoi vrtA J. Rannal. Simon P. Rappal! John H. Rappal, and Charles p. shtpman from membership in this exchange, and has indefinitely sus pended Mr. John E. Qulnn from the privileges of the exchange. This ac tion was taken by its board of direc tors on May and was the direct ' result of charges made by the pros! ecutlng con-mltiei- of the exchange, charging that these men. operating as Rappal Brothers & Company and Rappal Brothers & Qulnn. had vio lated Rule VII of the rules of the exchange by excessive overcharges for feed made against their custom ers The United States government, through Its imreau of Markets. Is al lied tc h found, by auditing the pru books, that during the year Its customer had been over charged for feed to the extent of ton flfi.12. The Chicago Live Stock Exchange. By E. M. Hughes, Secretary. tl.ider authority conferred on him by the act of Congress approved August 10, 1917, known as the Pood Control Act. the President of the United States, on June 26. 1918, placed under federal license the com mission men, traders, packer buyers, and stock-yard companies; the ad ministration of the license to be under the Department of Agriculture through Its Bureau of Markets. their business will, in time, cure many of these market evils. When near la dprlared. the authority con ferred on the President by the Food Control Act ceirfces. ana it win De Under the license regulations it was provided: w 7. A license shall not make or exact any unjust, exorbitant, un reasonable, or discriminatory ana Unfair commission, profit, or charge for buying, selling, receiving, hold ing, feeding, watering, shipping, or otherwise handling or dealing in live stock or In connection with stock-yards. Last fall the commission men, by concerted action through their var ious exchanges, advanced the com mission charges for the sale of, live Btock from. 20 to CO per cent aver- trine ubout 30 Der cent. L'uon com plaint the American Natlpnal Live stock Association and other live stock organizations, the Bureau of Markets instituted hearings as to the reasonableness of these advances Public hearings were held at Chi cago, Denver and Kansas. City. Com mission men were required to fur nish financial statements showing their receipts and expenditures, in eluding charges for feeding, etc. After the conclusion of these hear Intra, accountants from the Bureau of Markets went over the books of re- nrpRpntative commlsison firms at the various markets, in order to ascer tain the character of their earnings and expenditures. Among the inter esting data secured was information clearly proving that Borne comnils sion firms were making large sums of moaey through excessive feed bills charged against their patrons. It has long been suspected by ship pers that commission firms were very lax in their methods or Handling feed charges: that hay and grain was charged for which was never fed; that whatever feed was left was also charged to the' next user of the pen a double charge. In other words, commission firms, so as to be on the safe side in their feed accounts, charged up a liberal amount of feed to practically every consignment re ceived. " The fact that the Chicago firm which was expelled garnered a profit nf nvpr 20.000 dollars during one year on its feed bills demonstrates how criminally careless some com mlBRlon firms are in the handling of their feed accounts. The Juggling of these feed accounts was not an ac cident. Every commission firm in Ao tn a creater or less de gree, aimed to secure a profit from this source of revenue, it was wen known In commission house circles thnt this renrehensible practice exist ed for years, and that the graft was increasing; and it is truly regreitame that nnr aeents. the commission mon did nn take some steps to cor rect it. Nothing was done until the Bureau of Markets unearthed some Bcandalous Instances of its grave abuse. Probably it would have gone on forever, and been winked at by these live-stock exchanges, bad It not hopn for the exnose through the Bureau of Markets. " Let us score one for that bureau. Possibly the expulsion from the UvA-Mtork exchanees of sbme of the firms guilty of unjust an aexorouani methods may make the other com mission firms more careful in the handling of their food accounts. Let us hope so. It will, however, pay all ahlnnera to exercise reasonable care in BAoine- that the feedlnr charges assessed against them bear some Just relation to the actual amount or iooa consumed. Th cau in noint well emphasizes the importance of the regulation of the commission nrms Dy me govern ment. Publicity of the conduct of tiritttPAry for Congress to enact so'me legislation which will enable tne nartmnt of Acriculture to exercise supervision over these various agen cies connected rlth the handling or live stock at market centers. The Kendrick Bill provides for such authority. Th rttirean of Markets still has nnder advisement the reasonableness of the advance In commission cnar- tt Is hoted that a decision will be handed down this spring. The vice of the nve-stocK commission business Is that there are too msny people seeking to extract a living from it. The actual necessary worn could be performed much better with fewer firms. Mos of the time of many of these firms is devoted to se curing business ana aurncim u from their competitors. Is this a legitimate expense which the shlpnrr should pay for? Self-Conquest Pa'lcnce and. gentleness nre not easy virtues when one Is troubled within and buffeted without by the day's trials nnd demand". There Mre many times whi n th taking of a city might nienn less to the Individual sol dUr concerned thnn rhe conquest of his own spirit nnd tongue. There are tense days when n carping or unjust word falls on the spirit like a lighted match on tinder; wherefore we should be the more careful to store no tinder for ourselves, and toss no lighted matches nt our fellows. a 1 a n a i . -a mr jn ii mm , JL - I I E i Post of Permanence The post that drives like a stake that re quires no hole diggingthat is cheaper installed than wood or concrete posts that lasts! Let us demonstrate Keel Top T Steel Fence Posts made of durable A-l angle steel rot proof fire-proof unbreakable. Used extensively by the U. S. Government Protect! cattle from lightning per mits fence line burning improves and beautifies your property saves work. Sharp bevel edged points make it easy to drive. Patented anchor plate makes it 1 bind tight in any soil. Ask for the post with the RED HEAD. Come in to day; no obligation to buy. DIERKS LUMBER & COAL COMPANY if, to! mm U i '.mini; Jimmifm.f.l Jk WyM 250 DATHS5j&J ((L RATES 2J03 DO N iijp 50 rooms With bath 12.50 V F tOO ROOMS VlTH BATH 2X)0 A 4? 10 0 ROCW3 VlTH BATH 1 1.50 V BYERS BROS. & CO. i 1NC0HP0RATED . LIVE STOCK COMMISSION STOCK YARDS, OMAHA Supported by sound Judg dX&S ''J ment and a sincere iur XyK"3" pojc are the strong points j"IafWA " l In our service. Tills f''i7?T- shows seven of the tJx- Wf ' ' : V ! j teen members at our YLM' I , maha House CjST-:. A LETT ER From Dr. Todd,Well Known and Popular Dentist of Omaha JD)r.(G. W. TODB ; DENTIST 403 Barker Block. DEAR FRIENDS : (Over Beaton's Drag Store) Corner 15ty ft Farnum Sts. Omaha, Neb., July 7, 1919 With the completion of eighteen years of practice in Dentistry vre find ourselves occupying the largest, most complete and best equipped dental office in the middle west; having just fcaoved to our new location in the Barker Block, Fifteenth and Farnam streets, occupying the Fourth Floor. We desire especially to express our appreciation to our friends why read The Alliance Herald, for they have ( been most cordial in the support of our institution. The many kind words spoken by them in behalf of our work helped to make possible the marked progress we have made. ' Sunday hours : 9 a. m. to 12 m. Evening hours by appointment. ' Advanced methods in dentistry, many of them the product of our own ingenuity, has contributed largely to the popularity of our service; in this connection we mention with considerable pride the Whole Porcelain Teeth, used in bridge work, and the respirator, which has proven a great success in the relief of pain in delicate dental execution. Our service is a guaranteed dental service, and we are always glad of the opportunity for inspection of car work to enable us to make good our guarantee. Our facilities are greater now than ever before, therefore, we are now better prepared than ever to attend your dental needs in a manner which cannot be otherwise than satisfying. ' We urge you to call and see us, no matter whether yon have work to be done or not, we are always pleased to welcome our friends, and to inform them of the best to be obtained in dentistry, that they may be informed when i dental work becomes a necessity for them. Extending to you every courtesy and hoping to be favored with a visit to our new home, I remain, l v . Very cordially; t Dr. G. W. Todd The Herald takes pleasure in recommending Dr. Todd and his den tal establishment to stockmen and others who visit Omaha and are in need of dental work. I3a i