West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-06-22
THE CHICAGO BEEF RING,
New York Times. May Is.

beef to consumers either in the East
rim the Western cities where the
cattle are slaughtered. The great
est markets for Western cattle are
Chicago and Kansas City. Even in
these cities the price of beef ut retail
to the consumer has not been reduc-
ed. it is stated, in the years during
which the price OF range cattle has
fallen nearly 80 per cent. So far as
the supply of beef from these cities
is concerned, both the producer and
the consumer have been at the mer-
cy of small but very rich and pow
erful ring of slaughterers and ship.
pers. These men have fixed prices
on each side of the line. The ranch
man with herd for sale has been
forced to accept their terms, and
great profits have been collected
from consumers.
At last the operation of this ring
are to be the subject of an official
investigation. On the 10th instant
there was passed in the Senate, upon
the motion of Mr.. Vest Of Missouri,
resolution providing for an inquiry
by special committee of five Sena-
tors, whose duty it shall be-
''To examine fully all questions
touching. the meat product of the
United States, and especially as to
the transportation of beef and beef
cattle and the sale of the same in
the cattle markets, stock yards, and
cities; and whether there exists or
has existed any combination of any
kind, either on the part of the Trunk
Line Association or the Central Traf-
tic Association, or on the part of
those engaged in buying and ship
ping meat products, by reason of
which the prices OF beef and cattle
have been so controlled or affected
as to diminish the price paid the
producer without lessening the cost
of meat to the consumer"
1t appears that Mr.. Vest was
moved to ask for this inquiry be-
cause Chicago has deprived St.
Louis of the share Of the cattle and
beet trade which under natural con-
ditions st. Louis would have secured
and retained. The inquiry should
have been made long ago, in behalf
of consumers and the sellers of cat
tie. But if there is to be now thor
ough investigation, the Senator's
motive is a matter of very little i'm
portance. 1t may be shown That
st. Louis has been wronged, but at
the same time the wrongs suffered
by producers and consumers gener-
ally will be pointed out. The inter
ests of the people in all the States
are served by such an inquiry.
1t will be found that the Chicago
cattle ring deprived other cities of
trade and gained control of the bu-
siness by entering into a conspiracy
with great railroad companies. The
rings methods were those OF the
Standard Oil Trust. 1t established
its power by means of iniquitous
bargains with common carriers. The
Oil Trust crushed competitors in
the oil business by transportation
compacts, the railroad companies
not only carrying its oil at rates far
below those exacted from competit-
ors, but even paying to it large
part of the money received from
other shippers. The Association of
Eveners in Chicago received from
the trunk lines rebate of SIS car
for cattle shipped eastward. They
received this rebate not only on cat
tie shipped by themselves but also
on all cattle shipped by other per-
sons from other cities. The result
was that In q short time the bust
ness of buying range cattle, of
slaughtering them, and Of shipping
live cattle or beef eastward, was con-
centrated in Chicago. 1t is stated
that the payment of these rebates to
the Eveners was discontinued in
1878. But the use of such Il system
for five years had established the
supremacy of the Chicago ring, and
it is probable that the members of
that ring continued to be favored by
discriminating rates or rebates.
Probably the members of the ring
were thus favored by the companies
up to the day when such discrimi-
nation was forbidden by the inter-
State commerce law. Have they re-
ceived rebates or special low rates
since that time? The law has been
violated for the benefit Of the Stan
dard Oil Trust, and the committee
may find that it has not prevented
discrimination in favor of the cattle
ring. There are indications, how
ever, that the ring does not rely now
upon such aid, but is able to control
the trade in other ways.
This cattle ring could not have
been built up without a secret and
unlawful bargain with railroad man
ayers, and yet those who urge the
nomination of men who do not wear
the collar are called "cranks" and
''disorganizers."
Emperor Frederick died last Fri