Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-11
ARMOUR DON'T ANSWER.
He Declines TO Tell Senators the Big Beef
Secrets-Senator Vest Gives Him a
Broad Hint-Throat. Cutting
RrothPrs.


KANSAS CITY, September 10.-The pack
ers had their inning before the Dressed
Beef Committee of the United States Sem
ate to-day. S. B. Armour, head of the
Armour Packing Company, of this city,
was on the stand for over three hours, and
answered good many questions that the
committee would have been pleased to have
asked the Chicago packers. The packers
testimony was entirely lacking in evidence
that would go to show that the cattlemen
and the consumer of dressed beef are the
victims of huge combination.
Senator Farwell arrived from Chicago
this morning, and as soon as he had Joined
his Senatorial associates, the committee
went into session. David Rankin, of
Atchison county, who had dealt in cattle
for 40 years, was the first witness. His tes-
timony went to show that the prices of
cattle in Chicago were Influenced to an ex-
tent by the lack of competition. (which
has had the greater influence on values,
lack Of competition or over productions"
asked Senator Farwell. "Over-supply, by
long Odds" was the reply
James 81. Payne, live stock commission
merchant, who had done business on the
Kansas City market for Is years, was asked
to propose an adequate remedy for Texas
fever, and the means to be taken to prevent
its spread and to ultimately stamp it out.
He thought the only way to handle the dis
ease was the establishment of permanent
system of sanitary regulations under the
National Department OF Agriculture.
S. B. Armour was then called. He said,
as preface to his testimony, that he desired
to assure the committee of his profound re.
spect, but to inform them at the same time
that he should refuse to answer any and all
questions that would have a tendency to re-
veal the inside of his private business, or to
expose to his competitors his trade secrets.
Senator Vest assured him that the CON-
mittee had no disposition to pry into private
affairs, only SO far as they might be excep-
tionally interesting to the public, GAS to
your refusing to answer questions, we shall
record your refusal and refer the question to
a higher tribunal-the Senate of the United
States-whether or not we can make you
answer the questions"
After relating how his business had
grown from small establishment to one
that was now valued at 81, 500, 900, and in
which were employed from 1000 to 1000,
men daily, Mr. Armour explained that the
Kansas City Armours and Chicago Armours
conducted entirely separate packing houses 4
They were, in fact, competitors in the
same market. Mr.. Armour had balance
sheet with him, showing the profit, but he
did not wish to expose his business. He
would not give the total profit, but would
let the reporters figure it out. The balance
sheet showed, he said, that he had killed |
LA, 1868 head of cattle during the year 1887. |
They had netted him just S36 cents per
head profit.
1.-THE former testimony" said Mr.. Vest, |
"shows that the price of meat to the con-
sumo: had not decreased during the time
that cattle had deprecated in value. |
How did that come about, and who gained
the proft?"
1.-The prices of meat to the consumer had |
decreased on all but choice cuts" said the
witness.
''The prices of those have been main |
tained because the demand for that kind of !
meat had increased; more people ate better
meat"
Coming to the question of the combine,
Mr.. Armour denied that there was any
least that he was interested |
in it.
Chow about Chicago packers?' asked |
Senator Vest.
81 decline to answer, replied the witness. |
"In regard to the alleged agreement be-
TIVE IN some of the railroads and the big |
packers, what rate are you paying now?"
asked Mr.. Plumb
81 decline to answer" responded the |
witness.
Returning to the question of competition
between the packers, Mr.. Armour stated |
that it was very brisk, so brisk in fact, that |
there was very little profit in the dressed |
meat business. Even he and his brother, |
P. D. Armour, cut each others business |
throats every day in nearly every market in |
the country.