New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-22
escorted by two troops Of cavalry to Arlington Cems
terry, whore 1t Inferred.
INVESTIGATING 1HE CATTLE TRUST
WORK OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE IN ST LOUIS
UNEXPECTED RISE IN PRICES IN SUMNER.

WORK OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE IN ST. LOUIS
UNEXPECTED RISE IN PRICES IN SUMMER.
st. Louis Nov. 21.-Bcfore tho Senate committee
investigating the cattle question the nrst withess
was j. L. Bush, cattleman OF Coioraho Ci'y'
Texas. Mr. Bush related the decadence OF prices
on cattle and attributed 1t principally to over-pro
duction He had no personal knowledge OF dlscrlm
inaton by railroads j. NJ Osborne, Division Freight
Agent OF the wabash said he had been In the freight
business for forty-two years. lie owns iar" III
Nebraska, and raises cattle there Mr' osporho OK
planned how the consolidation Of commodiues al any
point reduced prices. He did not Kno" personanS
OF the existence OF combine in Chicago win tho
purpose OF reducing prices to the producer There
was an element In railroad tariffs now which hau
never existed prior to the Dassagc OF the interstate
Commerce law That printed rates, 90 tha'
the shipper knew just what he had TO pay. ono-
sixth of the cattle shipped from Illinois 10 Chicago
averaged 1 200 to 1900 pounds. Cattle rose sl per
hundred In May, but deprecated 90 Genus shco
October.
Senator vest-what caused the rise In prices In Mayt
Mr. osberne-I think It the appointment OF this
committee. I may be hung by some Of the ca,temen
for saving this but not here In the interest Oh
cattlemen.
| Senator Cullom-You safe here
Mr. Osborne-I never and think cattleman
ever saw the price OF cattle In summer before
j. c. Beattie of FL Paso. Texas, was next called
He stated he raiser, buyer and seller OF cattle
The firm with which he connected put up
s75 900 refrigerator which enabled them to have fresh
meat four five days old, something that was en-
trcly new there The railroad agent Informed them
that his obligations to Mr. Armour were such that he
would not get for them to ship cattle out to the
Pacific Coast. The result that the refrigerator
had to be shut down. Then Mr.. Armour began put
ting beef in refrigerator He broke the market
from 1-2 to IL cents, and cattle raiscis near tI
Paso were compelled to ship to Kansas City at loss.
Ills firm now shipped beef to the City OF Mexico,
which better market the year round than any In
this country.
Senator Cullom-What road do you refer toi
Nh Beattie-The Southern Pacific We also found 1t
impossible TO get the Santa Fe The same roads
that refused ship cut meats to the Pacinc
offered in which to ship cattle on the hoot
Brewster Cameron testified that he was raising cat
tie the open range Of Arizona He considered
that Chicago controlled the markets of the country
When cattle went into the Chicago market drovers
had the privilege of looking through hole In the
buy Many cattle raisers were on the verge Of bank
ruptcy large number Of producer % could ba naSc Se
Chicago combine would not continue to control prices
banker, said it was his opinon hat there was pow
erful combine at Chicago
Daniel Mcpherson, prominent cattle dealer In this
market and a brother of Senator MCPHERSON of New
Jersey, said yesterday that he did not believe any
Big Four" combination existed or could exist to con-
troll prices In the matter Of beef buying In the West
the Big Four Armour, Swift, Morris and Hammond,
buying cattle they do In such large numbers may
secure favorable contracts but they cannot control
the market They may, by combination with the
railroads. better facilities In shipping and may
even get rebate which and other outside shippers
have been able to do since the passage OF the INFER
state law but II 1t tage is not sufficient to esaD
lsh control Of the market price OF meat OF course,
the beef business has affected prices, b that
is because 1t Is cheaper handle than live stock, not
because of combinations ,
thorc flo ms and
views and spoke lightly of Senator Vests agitation
against the dressed beef riagnates Oh Chcago'
BUTCHERS DESERTED By THE RANGE MEN.
ST. Louis, Nov. 81 (Specab.-The dressed beef
"combne- has complete possession of the situation
Within two days It converted the cattle men from
bitter enemies ardent friends, and the butchers are
panic-stricken at the prospect The convention was
again postponed to-day. The range men say that II
the butchers will agree to discuss in convention only
such subjects as will not be injurious to the trade,
and conlne themselves to charges which they can
substantate then the men Will go into the con-
ference or convention but If. on the other hand.
the butchers insist upon making reckless statements
about dressed CATTLE which the range men Know are
not true and which cannot be proved, they may hold
a convention by themselves.
This morning it generally understood by the
butchers that they would hold mass-neetng
Thomas Armour and Chrsn Brokate said that this
demonstration would not be held before tomorrow