New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-01
P, d. ARMOUR TESTIFlES.
FILLING THE SENATORS WITH INFoRMA-
TION ABOUT DRESSED-BEEF.
JUsTIFYIsG HIMSELF BEFORE SENATOR VESTS
COMMITTEE - BELONGS TO NO CoMBINA'
TON AND HAS NO PRIVATE ARRANGE


TON AND HAS NO PRIVATE ARRANGE
MENT WITH ANY RAILROAD.
Washington Nov. Ex-senator Vests committee
which has been investigating the dressed-beef bus
ness Of the country for some months, having visited
the Of that business In the course OF their
inquiry during the recess of Congress, resumed the
examination Of witnesses this morning. In the room
of the Senate Committee on Commerce. There were
present Of the committee Senators Vest Cohe Farwe'
Henderson and Plumb, and a number OF persons III
terested witnesses otherwise. Among them
was P. d. Armour the Chicago beef and pork packer
whose presence the committee failed to secure at its
sittings IN that city. He was accompanied oy MS
attorneys Messrs W. J. Campbell, Martin, Quinn ana
Dudley.
Mr.. Armour was the first witness. he
said he had been in the beef business
all his life. The dressedbeef business began 10 DO
important about ten years ago. For the hrst TWO
or three years 1t not remuneranve, as nethods
had to be studied and the business learned In 1851
or 1882 IL had become paying business filces
lower now,' said the witness, ethan they were
when began the dressed-besf business. j cannot
glve thc exact figures" Mr.. Armour was asked 10
what he attributed the decrease in prices He said
to senator Vest that he had prepared written state
ment, which would give his views upon this point.
This satisfactory TO the committee, and W. ).
Quinn, of Mr. Armours young men, as Nh.
cuded the figures of tie business for term of years
and comparison Of prcos Chicago in 1883 and 1850
The latter Il asserted In the paper. showed re-
ductOn In prices of canned beef products OF 90 per
cent In conclusion, the statement denied that INC
firm Of Armour & Co. had engaged In any coInonanoh
whatever 10 fix the price to be paid for cattle, or the
price for which the product should be sold. An alb
stract given of the dressed beef business OF tho
firm Of Armour & Co. during 1888 the year in which
public agitation occurred resulting in the appoint
ment Of the committee conducting the investigation.
This abstract showed that 3i06 $50 head had been
dressed, which the net profit was s41o1Oo, an
average Of II 80 per head.
Reyumng his oral testimony, Mr.. Armour said that
over production and over-markcting responsible
for the decrease IN prices.
Senator Vest then discussed with tho witness the
combination Of packers to fix the prices of the better
cuts 10 prevent decline from over-suppy,
rulnous to the dealers in these meats The witness
SAID this combination included the other packers.
- We make the prices" he added
"Wth whom do you fix these prices!'
"That | decline TO state until after consulting my
attorney responded the witness.
Senator Vest produced statement from Mr..
Armours brother, who appeared before the committee
Kansas City, showing that he lost 50 23 on LOO
pound cornfcd bullock that cost him S3 10 per 100!
How is that you make I'll 81 on steer In Chicago,
VIII le he loses SO % 81 er In Kansas Clty !!
i don't know anything about that statement
There things entering lbtO inc cul,lh6
up Of steer, and the state OF the market tnat nc
might lose that amount on steer cut up III DAY una"
statement made. | am not an expert" Jhe VII
add d. in reply Senator Vests statement that ne
asked to reply as an expert. - - 49, ho,
III; armour @ f Tsss in CbiragG We paid 25 cents
a hog for the privilege of killing them lhele "ss nU
frms and PERSONS interested in the agreement"
Senator test-Have you any agreement now WIN
any person TO the pe!ces that shal De ohareeu III
certain districts!
I absolutely none. - j., ,,,,s,or ~ ,arr,toyv ~
Witness declined 10 answer this ,,,, ~
| ibid you and other firms not agree 70 divide con;
tracts To furnish certain puDilc lhSuluuoDs' auu
| then divide the receipts"
| Not 10 my knowledge ~, - -,
:. Have YOU any private arrangement with any rail-
road or railroad association for reduced rates"
Il have not. We have frequently had rates estao
llsbed for a year al a time; but they were open pup
| lished rates. We have no advantage over others 80
far / know, we n'ver did have reduced ra'e' oii
Returnnc TO the question Of prices to the consumer
Mr. Armour said the beef packers did not inter mo
competition with retail butchers eNceps Ies sc
anvwboTos saW Mr.. Armour endeavord to force local
butchers buy our meats, nor ehteIeu In.o con-,
| Akron ub no an unjust boycott made upon us
As 10 the state OF the market Mr. Armour sau II
tbat h, sees indications Of greatly improved condition
| Of prices within the next thr'e years ola, oil
v, Tho c.,I9@ matter r. the attention of the witness
Mr. Armour had stated in his paper thar me oh1, "
tbe rrice of beef cattle senator Plumb asked him 10
explain how was that the price OF oleo OIL nsd hn, oo
creased only 80 per cen whe thss oi aid he would
| had decreased 30 per cent "I'p''' sun" ~
The Ssnsfor asked Mr. Armour Il It was not fact act
| that when a buver for Armour & Co. has made DIu
certain lot Of cattle ne buyers OF o'lor
would not touch those cattle. . ..ao, ,ho ,rt
Not at all; never In any case' respohdeu INC WIZ
senator Plumb remarked that they were prosperous
nInts for having been striking against each Qtnr ~
long TO this the witness rcso%ndeE % 'rSI e,cone new
ness was open, and the packers "Vui" "
lDO1i In lp hlSin
Il suppose you know said the Senator " hat az
cattle men all the country utterly d'Socio'o !"
Mr. Armour said that II such belief existed anu
he admitted that there was some sucn oel'Ul oI,,Ior ~
due to false information conGeTpns snns rT ~ G,es
lion Of senator Vest that combination dm tNI>t
among the beef packers for the purpose q opnIr mApH
prices Of the better OF beef In New orh ,I IeI
vania Ohio Indiana Illinois. MICHIGAN kenluohS Nv
Tennessee and Minnesota Witness deueS .% Iios
tercscd with Swift Co. IN The plrchase VI M II romId
Dressed Beef Company. Of New-England nc ,,.T U.uu
give the COMMITTEES no information as TO me condion
prospects Of the American Dressu bGel J Nn,y
which was reported TO have oeen i nnerally IN
dersoOd 10 be a wall Street movement Nir a fntno oS
said the three establishments using me nai,io a,o VI
Armour were entirely distinct under separate .a llaae
and in active competition against one one aHo' as h:
So active Is the competition he sad; tha's 81 ,i.na
brother in Kansas could have told inc u,,,nnns
II had nearly rptired family ria'''"''
partner In the three concerns. . 49, Chtcago
George r. Williams. superintendent OF INC % I-a1c
stock Yars. said BE- had been subpoena, V h Drjvas
the books OF the company but they behg lhe ptIo
property of the company, and Ho' DOING ufe
to have them 90 ont Of their custody, ne =, d.
brought them Tho witness was excused Ino fn,r,
man nforrninr him that he not dechare.n loln
further attendance upon the conlm,,et H. cnm,ttee
two ether witnesses had been heard thc eouin"'"0
adjourned until Monday.
A NEW DELEGATE TO THE MARINE CoNfhHhNch