The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-01

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Cxoss-ExamEnaffen BY Vest.
WasHfssros. Eov. Ms nator Vests
con- M sses which has been invesfisa ing
the dressed beef business resumed exam
nation Of witnesses this morning. P. d.
Arussag Of Chicago. TIE FIRST witness. said
he had beer In the beef business al his
Life. The dressed beef business heeaH 70
be important ten years ago. For three
Years IL had been unremuneFasive.
Methods had TO he studied and the business
learned. In 1851 % lss2 il became pay
ing business Prices are lower now. said
the isness. than thev were when he began
the dressed beef business. In range cattle
the decrease in prices. however. had NOS
been 20 great As - or 50 per cent.
Armour Was asked 60 what he attrib-
ated the decreaze IN prices he said that
he bad prepared written statement which
would giEe his siews. w. J.. Q linn. one Of
bis famous young men. a. be TERMED him.
read a long stat ment which included
figures OF me business for q term OF years
and comparison of prices In Chicago in
1888 and iss9 The latter, il was asserted
in the paper, showed reduction IN the
prices Of canned beef product OF so per
cent. In conclusion. the statement denied
that Armour & Co. were engaged in any
combination @basever 70 6x the price TO
be paid for cattle or the price for which
the pToduct hoald Re sold.
An abstract was given of the dressed
beef business Of Armour & Co. during 1888,
the year IN which II was alleged. according
"a this statement, that the profits OF the
business were immense, and In which the
public agitation occurred resulting in APP
pointment Of the coTnmiftse conducting
the investigation. This abstract showed
that 1905 head bad been dressed which
Melted profit OF $4lS i85. an average Of
81 - per head
kesaming oral testimony, Armour said
oser-protiactiun and oyer~mark citing Is re-
spoasible for the decrsa g in prices.
Vest asked witness ii the Chicago market
did not control priccs.
II do not think so.n was the answer.
1T Is the largest market. and OF course in-
iaences prices at other places. Chicago
prices regulate prices largely.
Senator Vest. reading from the annual
repari Of the Chicago stock yards for isss.
called the attention OF the witness 20 the
fact hat in ISL there were marketed there
i.i9s.Us eaftle, wlich brought 1888. 00a. 80.
and In fsSs, 2,6li 600 cattle sold for SIs2,-
$1,000. How do sou account Tor that?n
1t is in accordance vi nay statement
said Armour. The growth Of the amount
Of cattle marketed largely exceeded the
growth OF population"
In response 10 this, Vest presented a
statement showing THAI the increase OF cat
tie and population ran along in about the
same proportion The attention OF witness
was directed 10 bis statement that the
placing OF hides upon the free list resulted
"a large importations Of them.
Vest stated that hides were placed on
the free list In 1872, while the table OF
prices in the statement begins with 1878.
Vest then discussed with witness the
combination Of packers 70 ax prices and to
prevent decline from over-supply.
Witness said this combination included
other packers. They all make the same
prices.
well. then. don't you destroy the opera
tons Of the law Of supply and demand9"
No. sir. don't think We do
with whom do you fix these pricesf'
THAT decline 70 state until after con-
sulging my attorney responded the wit
ness.
Armour admitted being member of the
hog packing pool in 1883 10 Chicago. we
raid Is cents bog for the privilege Of kill
Ing them. There was no linit 70 the num-
Der We killed. There we're eighteen firms
and persons interested in tie agreement !"
Have you any agreement as to the
prices that shall be charged in acertain dis
tricsg"
Absolutely none"
Is there any argument a. 10 division as
60 territory. Witness declined 20 answer
Armour said bis frm had no private con-
tract with any railroad or railroad assoeia-
ton for reduced rates. Returning to the
questions Of prices 10 the consumer he said
beef packers did not enter into compe iti0n
with retail butchers anywhere except az
their own packing houses.
Our iirm has never anywhere" said be,
"endeAvored 10 fore local butchers 10 buy
cur meats, ner entered into competition
with them. except in one instance. at
Akron. where Al unjust boycott was asade
upon Us" As to the state Of the market
Armour said Il he were IN the cattle haSi-
ness he would stav in il now.