Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-09-23

for it the people will hold President Harrison responsible.
 THE MONOPOLY IN MEAT.
 The condition of the meat trade in this country presents some curious points for consideration to which the at tention of the people has been attracted on more than one occasion. The fact that the retail prices of meat show no signs of coming down while all the natural conditions are favorable to such reduction would seem singular were not the causes thoroughly we'll understood. That there is an absolute monopoly in meat known as the big four, who con- trol the supply and regulate the prices, explains what might otherwise seem to be a mystery. And the fact that these four have refused to enlighten the sen- ate committee that is looking into the subject is an indication that they have no thought of letting in the light if they can prevent it.
 It seems little curious that while stock raisers are receiving lower prices for their cattle than they got some years ago, while rates of transportation and the expense of slaughtering are considerably less than they were ten or twelve years since, the price of beef to it's consumers is considerably higher than it was when the conditions for cheapness were much less favorable Tho 0n1v owr1orofi0n hot Lo is that Messrs Armour, Swift, Morris and Hammond, who practically control the meat trade of the country, are obtaining, as result of their monopoly, a profit altogether out of proportion to what they ought to have. It is an open secret that these. men have used their power to depress the prices of live stock and to greatly increase the price of beef. By this means they have been able to reap extraordinary profits from the business aI thaS-xpense LtheIa'ail consumers. Non does the claim they make that the meat business is open to competition from anybody, and that they cannot be justly charged with having a monopoly, alter the fact that it is practically i'm possible to make headway against them. The capital needed to compete with this great combine would be something enormous. If the business were confined to one district-that is, supplying beef for Chicago, New York, Philadelphia or Boston-these large concerns doing general business could readily cut down the price at one con- peting point, while keeping it up else where, until they had ruined their com petitor. Suppose, for instance, some large concern undertook to supply the grocers and butchers of Waterbury with beef at rates lower than those furnished by the big four, enabling them to cut down the price to the consumers; the big four would at once throw in their beef here at rates that would drive their competitor out of the market, and thus they would put rates back to the pre- vious figures which allowed them such extraordinary and unequal profit. In order to profitably divide the meat trade with the big four, operations would have to be carried on at all the great centers of population in the country, which implies the possession of stock yards, abattoirs, refrigerator cars and all of the paraphernalia of an exceedingly extended business. And when such competing business was suc- cessfully built up, perhaps at the sacri- lice of considerable money, the chances are largely that the big four would bring about pooling arrangement with the new concern that would have the con sumer for its common victim. The small dealer, and through him the con- sumer, would be little better off than before, as they would simply be in the condition of one who took flying leap from the frying pan into the fire.
 It seems strange that such things can be in this country, but such unfortu- nately they are and there seems to be no remedy. It is not easy to see how legis- lation can reach them in the present order of our social system or their methods be changed while human nature remains as it is. It is the con. temptation of monopolies like this which deals in one of the staples of mems ex- lstence that inclines men favorably to the theories of nationalism which are so eloquently expounded by the Bellamys and McGlynns of our day. So fierce are becoming the impositions of capital and monopoly that it would be strange indeed if men did not lean kindly to any theories that seem to lessen their power of oppression. As men study the condition of the meat. trade it is small wonder that they find in it very strong argu- ment for just the conditions that the social reformers of the times are en- deavoring to bring about in the land.