The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-09-12
THl Dnl8sGD ofFf INVESTIGATION,



KANaAa CRY, September iO,-Tho pack,
en had their Inning he ore the Dressed
Beef Committee Of the United States Sen
ats to-day, B, II, Armour, head Of the
Armour Packing Company OF this city,
was on the stand for over three hours, and
answered good many questions that tho
committee would have been pleased 10 have
asked the Chicago packers, The packers
testimony was entirely lacking Ia evidence
that would 80 10 show that the ohttlemen
and the consumer Of dressed beef are the
Victims Of y huge combination,
Senator Farwell arrived from Chicago
this morning, and ~ soon aa he had Iolned
his Senatorial associates, the committee
went lnlo araslon, David Rankin, of
Alohlaon county, who had dealt In cattle
for 40 years, was the lmt witness, His tea,
llmony went 10 show that the prices Of
cattle In Chicago were Influenced 10 an eI-
tent by the lack Of competition. (which
has had the greater Influence on values,
lack Of competition or rprOduoilonY"
asked Senator Farwell, "Oyursupply, by
long odd" was the reply,
James II, Payne, live stock commission
merchant, who had done business on tho
Kansas City market for 10 years. was asked
10 propose ~ adequate remedy for Texas
fever, and the means 10 DO taken 10 prevent
iiH spread and 10 ultimately stamp II out,
lilo thought the only way 10 handle the dis.
ease was the establishment OF u permanent
ayaiem Of sanitary regulations under the
National Department OF Agriculture,
y. II, Armour was then called. llo said,
as n preface 10 his testimony, that no desired
10 assure the committee Of hla profound 70.
lpeot, but 10 Inform them at the same time
that ho should refuse 10 answer any aud all
questions that would have u tendency 10 re-
veal the inside OF his private business, or 10
expose to his competitors his trade secrets,
Senator NoSt assured him that the cor.
mlttco had no disposition TO pry into private
Affairs only NO far "a they might be cIoop.
tlonally interesting 10 tho public "Aa 10
your refusing tO answer queationa, wo shall
record your refusal and refer the question TO
higher tribunal-tho Senate Of tho United
States whether or not we can mako you
answer tho questions"
Aitor relating how his business had
grown from small establishment 10 one
that was now valued nj 81, 900, 900, and In
which were employed from 1000 10 1000
men daily, Mr. Armour explained that the
Kansas City Armoura aud Chicago Armour,
conducted entirely separate packing houses
Theys were, In met, competitors In The
aNmo market, Mr. Armour had q balance
sheet with him, showing the profit, but he
did not Wish 10 expose his business lie
would not give the total profit, but would
let the reporters figure II out The balance
sheet showed, ho said, that no had killed
iil, 1868 head Of cattle during the year 1887
l.I llA tu saat
head prOht,
1Tho ibrmer testimony" said Mr. Vest,
uahowa that the price OF meat TO the con
umer had not decreased during the time
that cattle had dcprcclated In value
"lIow did that como about, and who gained
the profile"
"ihe prices Of meat 10 the consumer had
decreased on all but choice cuts" said tht
witness,
"Tho prices Of those have been main
lalned because the demand for that kind oil
meat had increascdi more people ate better
meat. y -
OVimng to uv ,iugvsion, o. tnu cunlplnc
Mr.. Armour denied that there was an,
combIne--at least that no was interested
In 10,
"How about Chicago packCrp" Oskc'
Senator Vest.
~ decline to answer, replied the witness
'ln regard to the alleged agreement be
tween aomo OF the railroads and the biz
packers, what rate are you paying nowY'
asked Mr., Plumb,
~ decline TO answer" responded th
witness
Returning 10 tho question Of competition
between tho packers, Mr.. Armour atate'
that II was very brisk, no brisk In fact, tha
there was very little profit In the drcssc'
meat business. Even ho and his brother
p. u, Armour cut each others busines
throats every day In nearly every market i
| tho country.