The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-10
DRESSED BBBF COMBINE.
The Senatorial Investigation at
Kansas City
TWO WILLING WITNESSES
MaksaIl Manner Of Charges Against
the Packers compipe-ImpoE I
Developments Butcher Ours,
ta,s Interesting Evidence,

KANSAS CRY, Sept 9,-The dressed
beef senatorial investigating COMMITTEES
began It's session here this morning in
the main parlors Of the Middleton Hotel
Senators Mandeson and Farwell had
not arrived at the hour OF assembling,
but Chairman Vest and Senators Plumb
and Coke were Promptly on hand, and
after being formally called to order the
investigation began, The examination
Of two witnesses occupied the morning
session. They were GeoFg6W, olyCk,
Of Atchisop, Ex-Governor Of Kansas, and
Charles Dursta, Of Atchison, Both were
willing witnesses being stockmcu, and
had all manner Of charges to make
against the packers combine, The ex.
Governor Of Kansas testified frat.
He had been In the cattla raisiug
business for thlrty years, during which
time the prices OF cattle had deprecated
thirty or forty per cent The cause for
this, the witness said, was the establish.,
nent In Kansas City Of great packing
interest which had developed frst
great competition among the packers
which was so powerful that lis members
could buy cattle ut their own prices,
"tlave you my knowledge Of the
workings Of this eombination2" asked
S.nator Vest,
eyes, l have shipped cattle to Kansas
City and have placed them on the mar.
ket here at the market price. The pack
ers' buyers protested that the price was
too high, and assured me tint II | did
not want 10 sell at their price couldre.
cattle and sond them 10 Chicago.
| did lhat several times,and found that
tho ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS coordination
controlled that end too. / wasforced In
the end TO sell at their price, The wit
ness, testlfylng further, asserted that the
effect Of the depreciation 10 the prices OF
cattle had been to drive many Of the cat
tie ralsers OF Kansas out OF the business
altogether. Tie packers also controlled
rates OIL the railroads to an extent that
tho packers OF Kansas City had almost
ruined the butchers business OF Atchi.
son, and would have done so entirely
had not the City Council passed aud en-
Iorced a city ordinance requiring the in-
speGtlon Of beef on the hoof, Before that
ordinance went into eject the packer
could buy his cattle at Atchison, ship
them q Kansas Oityf work them into
dressed beef, reship the latter product to
Atchison and sell 1t cheaper than the
local butchers could sell their dressed
beef slaughtered at home. Tho inspeC-
tion ordinance, however, had remelied
that state OF Affairs.
soME REVELATIONS.
Charles Dursta, a butcher OF Atchi-
son, was the next witness. lie corro.
Dated the testimony OF Ex-Governor
clyck, concerning the depreciation in
The price Of. cattle, Asked u he had
come iuto direct Contact with the com.
Of which Mr.. Clyck had spoken,
he related the following experience;
Icame to Kansas City one day to
BUY sheep. Iasked the owner in the
pens the price oil bis stock. lie quoted
figure. / looked further after taking
IN option on his sheep. When ! re.
.urnel the sheep had been sold and at a
price considerably below my offer. The
agent had bulldozsd him
INTO selling to him at a lower price than
would have given him."
"Do you state It as a fact 2" asked SEN
ltor Vest.
"No, replied the witness reluctantly,
Dut that was my impression.n
Hpoes tho impression prevail among
your business acquaintanoes that there |
Is combination among the packers to
,ontrol the prices OF cattle and dressed
beef2" inquired Senator Plumb. "That
impression exists, responded tue wit
ness.
Similar testimony was given by a
number OF other stockmen, after which
tho committee adjourned till tomorrow.