Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-17
THE CATTLE INDUSTRY
TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE SENATE
COMMITTEE.
a Lively Discassion OF the Matter-1arin
Debate In the House-Facts Concern.
ing the Wool Growers-Postoface Ap-
Poietments - Other Washington anS
Congregational News.

NoihAAAteCO ~ COulpD3cu MtS uoL 10 ufl-
dertake the work of Tariff revision. He
characterized the Mills bill as a rartisan
question, framed on partisan basis, and
Tor partisan ends, and any bill formulated
upon such q basis could never he q success,
and wonld never satisfy the American peo-
pie. Mr.. Farquhar stated that he and his
labor colleagues bad received scores of pc
htions from manufacturers and wage earn
ers, Democrats and Republicans alike
protesting against its passage, and he asked
II il had ever occurred 10 the Democratic
party that nearly one-half of the manufac-
furers OF this country were Democrats.
Mr.. Bayne, of Pennsylvania, criticised
the Presidents action in forcing the policy
OF tariff revision upon Congress, and spoke
In severe terms of the reported pressure
brought BY the administration upon menu
bers of the Democratic party in favor of
the measure. 1t had even been asserted
that public measures involving public in
terests had been denied the executive
sanction, because of the attitude of certain
representatives in Congress on the question
of tariff revision.
Mr.. Laird, of Nebraska dwelt upon the
dangers flowing from the surplus, and de-
ciared his readiness to attack it at both
ends, by paying the just debts of the Gov
ernment and by a reduction of customs
and internal revenue taxes. He said the
Mills bill was sectional and unfair, and ad-
vocated the preparation of a fair and hon
es3measure by the Republicans
Mr.. Weaver, of Iowa, considered the
Mills bill was fair and reasonable meas
ure, and an honest effort on the part of the
Ways and Means Committee to relieve the
people. He twitted the Republicans with
contenting themselves with finding fault
with the Mills bill without bringing in q
better one, and said that the Republican
party was in flight, and busily burning
bridges and Telling trees along the road
ever which the Democratic party must sd
vance for the relief of the people.
Mr.. McRae, of Arkansas, advocated the
application of the remedy contained in the
Mills bill, pointed out the advantages that
would accrue to the farmer from its enact
ment. and conteneed that the high price of
wages in this country had no connection
with protection.
Mr. Ryan of Kansas, said that the Presi-
dent in his own message had struck at RAN
dali, McAdoo, Foran and all their jolly fel-
lowship. Were the powers of the admins
tration ever before prostituted 70 such base
purposes, he asked.
Mr.. Russell of Massachusetts,, in advocs-
ing the passage of the bill asserted that
Agricultural interests were not tiourishing
in New England, especially in Vermont,
under q high protective tariff Turning
his attention to the wool schedule, he said
wool was the only agricultural product of
this country that had no export value, be-
cause foreign manufacturers did not want
It wool growing manufacturing jim
this country, hourished together
or languished together and at
the present time they languished to-
yether. The cloths alluded to by the Re
Publicans Is making up the cheap wooden
suits worn by the hard-working, laboring
men of the country, we're made. not from
wool; but out OF rags that dropped from the
kceyar's back .'They were old shoddy
rags come back" The United States, Mr.
Russell said. was the only highly civilized
country that put q duty on wool II was
only backward, old-fashioned Spain and
she United States that kept q TAX on the
first material Of human existence. If wool
were put on the free list. in iess than .
year wool would advance, because Ameri-
can manufacturers would be better able to
buy the staple.
The Senate.
The feature of the Senate proceedings
was the passage of the Vest resolution 70
investigate the meat trust.
The House amending the agriculture,
college &C: was reported from the Com
mittee on Agriculture and placed on the
calendar.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Vest last
Monday for q select committee 10 investi-
gate the question touching meat and meat
products of the United States was taken up,
and Mr.. Vest explained the scope Of the
resolution. He spoke of the Importance
of the industry, and said thgt the history OF
the world showed that the beef eating
people were foremost in pesce and war, in
art and science. He showed that while the
consumption Of beef was increasing that
the price of beef to the producer was
steadily declining. and the price TO the con-
sumer as steadily advancing. The purpose
of the resolution was to find out why this
was 80.
Mr.. Sherman said that he appreciated
the importance of the resolution, but wa,
opposed TO the creation Of select committees.
He suggested that the resolution be referred
to the standing committee.
Mr.. Cullom suggested an amendment to
include the Trunk Line Association and the
Central Traffic Association. Mr.. Vest nc.
cepted the suggestion and continued hi.
remarks. He said the present condition
OF things was the result of artificial opera.
tions which had ''butchered'' all the cattle
interests of the United States since 1873
He mentioned the falling off of the cattle
business Of ST. Louis and Kansas City. and
its concentration at Chicago, which was the
result of q selfish combination, and now thi:
combination was reducing the price of cat
tie to the producers and increasing it tc
the consumers, it becomes matter of great
importance TO the National Legislature
Five firms in the city of Chicago controlled
the price of meat in every city Of tht
United States. He read a statement, fol
which he held himself responsible, giving
details of an arrange ment made in 1873
between the railroads centering at Chicago
(mentioning particularly the New Yori
Central, the Erie, and the Pennsylvania
and the Chicago "Eyeners." Under tina
arrangement ST. Louis has ceased TO be
rival Of Chicago in the sale and sHpmen
Of Cattle.
Mr. Eanderson said he was in heart,
sympathy with Mr. Vests desire that th'
matter be thoroughly investigated. Mr.
Nanderson read statistics showing that th,
profits of the cattle killed and sold by tn,
i've Chicago firms controlling the bushes
were, in the year 1887, over $54, ,000. 600
There was, he said, something wrong ant
something artificial, which continued I,
keep Chicago as the great cattle center o
the country. which should be at Omaha
Kansas City, Sioux City, Atchison, ant
many other places.
Mr. Cullom said that the reason VIII,
Chicago had a. got away with the cattl
trade was in a great measure owing to tn
superior enterprise of her citizens. Whil
Chicago hsd been going forward, ST. Loui
had been apparently asleep and losing he
trade In his judgment, one of the cause
of low prices to producers and high price
70 consumers was the railroa,
freight charges which were higher thai
they should be on live stock an
on dressed mest. and that was one of th
reasons why ne desired the scope Of tn
resolution enlarged If that should tur
out to be true, the Interstate Commere
Commission would regulate it and comp
the railroads to reduce freight charges.
Mr.. Plumb advocated the resolution, an
said that no commission man. either in 5
Louis or Chicago, dared to do anythin
detrimental to the combination controllin
the cattle business.
Mr.. Vest said that these "monstrous CO
porations" had their armed hand on Ii
throat of ST. Louis. until 1878, when II
= 80