The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-05
Investigating Dressed Beef.

CHICAGO, Sept. 4. The senatorial inVeS-
tigation into the dressed beef and importa-
ton industries arrived at position this
morning when it became necessary to re
sort to vigorous measures or acknowledge
tn whole affair farce. G. T. Swift, the
millionaire dressed beef dealer, had been
subppnaed for the third time and and it
Was reported that he agreed to appear this
morning. He did not, however, come. P.
d. Armour, on whom summons had
been served, stated that he could
not come at the honr named, but
would let the commission know when he
would be able to attend. Secretary George
T. Williams, of the Union Stock Yards
company, who was ordered to appear with
the list of stockholders of the company and
other information was on hand, but on the
advice of counsel he refused to give the
names. E
The first witness called was President
Sherman, of the Stock Yard company. His
testimony gave an insight into the extent of
the business and the business methods of
the company. In answer to a question as
to whether there were any relations be-
tween the stoclzyards at Omaha and Kan
sas City and those at Chicago, he said
there were "none.''
Senator Vest was shown Mr.. Armour's
statement tonight. He said: ''Mr. Ar
mour must know that as chairman of this
committee have no more power than any
other member. Again, if l have any sym
patty at all with the cattle trade it would
not be with that of st. Louis 1 have been
resident of Kansas City seven years and
1 believe it is generally conceded that the
cattle trade of that city is in sympathy
with Chicago. AS to Mr.. Armour's tele-
gram, it was addressed to his agent, but
Instructed him to compel Schwab, who was
not his agent, to quit killing cattle'
At the afternoon meeting Chairman Vest,
in discussing the absence of Mr. Armour
and ether gentlemen, said he was sorry
these gentlemen had refused to attend, and
although they could compel their attend
ance they could not compel unwilling wit
nesses to testify to all they knew. 81 have
here telegram" continued Senator Vest,
'about which l have desired to personally
ask Mr. Armour but as he has refused to
appear here, l will read it anyway.
It was sent me by a gentleman about
whose responsibility there can be no ques-
ton The message is as follows: Freeman
Padree 1SsS.-Can't allow Schwab to con-
tinue killing live stock. If he will not stop
make other arrangement, and make the
price so we can get his trade.
(Signed) ARMOUR & CO."
The following was then unanimously
passed, after which the committee ad-
journed:
Whereas, Philip Armour, Nelson Nor
ris, Louis F. Swift, Frank E. Vogel, j. S.
Newman and Jacob Meyer having been
duly and lawfully summoned to appear as
witnesses before this committee, have re
peatedly refused to obey the same, it is or
dered that the facts be reported to the
chairman of the Senate of the United
States at its next session.
A reporter for the Associated Press called
on Mr.. Armour and asked for an interview
Mr.. Armour made the following statement
1.-The reason we did not appear before the
senatorial committee was that we know
we could not expect fair treatment from
the hands of Senator Vest, who is motor
He is the champion and advocate of the St.
Louis deserted cattle market and opposed
to Chicago interest. He has been friendly
to all hostile beef inspection bills that have
been introduced in the various state legis-
latures against Chicago's dressed beef, and
which, if passed, would have destroyed this
business. We are perfectly willing to ap.
pear before an impartial committee and
give any information pertaining to our
business which is not of strictly private
nature. We have never exerted any in
fluence to depress the price of cat
tie or increase the price of dressed
beef On the other hand it is d
well known fact that cattle are 81
per hundred higher than they would be if
it was not for the dressed beef industry
and we can get a great deal more out of a
bullock than the butcher or man who kills
in small quantities. We have never had
any association with Swift, Hammond or
Morris, directly or indirectly, in the pur-
chase of cattle. The telegram Mr.. Wesi
read this afternoon for the sake of getting
it on record was directed to our own agent
We had perfect right that he should no
kill cattle if he sold our dressed beef, an(
facts understood that the man was oul
own representative