Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-12
AN ALLEGED MEAT BOYCOTT.
Trouble Among the Butchers About
Government Contracts.

WHOLESALE DEALERS DENY ALLEGATIONS or UN-
FAIR DISSEMINATION AGAINST CERTAIN DIS
rRIcr BurcHERs-wHAr 10 SAID on BoTH SIDES
IKE MATTER LIKELY TO BE TAKEN INTO COURT
There il considerable talk among some OF
the butchers Of the city, who alege that there ID
an attempt to break down those q their number
who have been 90 fortunate or unfortunate - to
obtain government contracts. It is understood
that witnesses have been recently before the
District attorney in reference to the matter.
1t 10 alleged that the four Wholesale houses
Armour 4 Co., Swift, varnell and Norris
have combined with view to break up some of
the local dealers by refusing to supply them
with beef, excepting at exhorbitant rates. II
il said that some Of the agents or managers of
the Wholesale houses we're bidders for furnish
ing meats to the st. Elizabeth's asylum for the
insane and to the Soldiers home.
MIR. c. G. Carroll obtained the contract for
the Soldiers home. but before the bids were
opened word was sent to him that he would not
be permitted to get meat to fill the contract.
subsequently he found that it was no idle
threat, and he has only been able by the aid of
friends in the trade to obtain supply to meet
the acquisitions UPON him. Mr.. w. II. Hoover,
who il supposed to be connected with MIR. Car
roll, is also one of the prescribed butchers.
ANOTHER CASE.
, For the insane asylum Santus Auth was the
successful bidder, and he calculated that the
contract would yield him from 81 900 to 81, 500
for the year, but he, like MIR. Carroll, has met
with some difficulty in getting meat, and has
only succeeded, he states, through the secret aid
OF friends. Last Monday. it il alleged. the
wholesale dealers asked him SO per hundred
for whole carcases, which were sold the same
day to other parties supposed to have no SYM
pathy with the contractors at 50 per hun dred.
Again. ON Wednesday he was asked Sc per hum
dred for meat afterwards sold at $500 per hun
dred. Wednesday at the house of Nelson
Morris Co. party purchased several car
cases, but subsequently the firm became sus-
picious as to what the buyer intended to do
with the meat and finally offered to pay him a
bonus to annul the sale. The buyer refused to
give any explanation and demanded the deliv-
cry OF the meat, and that demand not being
complied with it is likely civil suit will fol-
low.
THE WHOLESALE MEMS SIDE OF THE CASE.
1t is but just to state that Mr.. Armour and
Mr.. Morris, who have been written to on the
subject, each replied that the action complained
OF was not authorized by them.
MIR. Scannell OF Armour d Co. was seen by q
STAR reporter. He said: There is no truth in
any OF the charges and you may deny them in
the strongest terms We have our customers
people in business we do not sell to, nor do we
want to do 80. It will be time enough for us
to speak if they go into the courts, as it is
stated they will do.'
Mr.. T. D. Varnell Of J. T. varnell l. Sons in
dorsed the remarks of Mr.. Scannell, saying that
it will be time enough to reply to any asper-
sions on the Wholesale dealers when char ses
are formulated.
At the house of G. F. Swift the manager, Mr..
Leyman, was found to be absent from the city.
Some OF the employees of tie house when told
OF the allegations made said: What it the
wholesale houses did bid for government con-
tracts2 They have the same right as Others
There is no truth in the statement that the con-
tractors cannot get beef. Any one can buy beef
who has the wherewith. You can say that this
house makes NO discrimination. Our business
Is to sell, and in doing we treat all alike. As
for the charge of conspiracy, let them prove
it. They can't do it"
Mr.. j. A. Hoffman, in the absence of Manager
Hillman Of Nelson Morris 4 Co., declined to
be interviewed, inasmuch as he may be called
Oh to give testimony.
THE CASE WILL NOT GO BEFORE THE PRESENT
GRAND JURY.
The complaints of the local dealers have been
placed in the hands of Assistant District Attor-
ney Coyle, who has examined several witnesses,
but as the Criminal Court will adjourn and the
grand jury will be discharged finally to morrow
the subject will not be presented to the present
grand iury