Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-09

HI WAS BoYoorrEp By THE CHICAGO BE
MEN BECAUSE HK BID on GOVERNMENT CON-
TRAcrs-xo COMPETITION ALLOWED.
The investigation Of the dressed beef bust
ness was resumed this morning by Senate
Vests special committee in the rooms Of the
Senate committee on commerce. Senators
Vest, Coke and Farwell were present and con-
Quoted the examination Of witnesses.
DR.. Chas. B. Purvis, surgeon-in-chief Of the
Freedman's hospital, was the first witness ex-
amined. He makes contracts for supplies
This year Armour d Co. have the contract
Last year, he said, presumably, Armour a Co.
had the contract also, but il was made in the
name Of Scanned The beef was delivered to
the hospital in the wagons Of four different
firms, in turns Of about week each
THE COMPANIES BULLpozK BUTCHERS
VIM. H. Hoover testified that he is butcher
in Washington; has been since 1872. He said
that Mr.. c. Carroll told him last spring IL
would not be wise for him to bid on govern
ment contracts, for II witness or any Of his
friends got any part Of these contracts the Chi
cago beef men would not sell witness any meat
and would drive him out of the market
Witness, however, did bid and secured some
small contracts, whereupon the threats out
lined by Mr.. Carroll were carried into effect.
None Of the agents of the Chicago firms
Armour 4 Co., Swift 4 Co. and Nelson Nor
ris-would sell witness meat, nor any of his
friends who tried to purchase for him.
Complaint was made to the Chicago houses
direct by witness through an attorney. Armour
Co. and Nelson Morris answered, saying that
they did not countenance any such proceed
ings. In order to test the genuineness Of these
letters witness took friend and endeavored to
buy meat Of the representatives of these Chi
cago firms but could not do so at the market
rates. They asked him two or three times the
regular rates and they have never since sold
him any meat
MIR. HoovER's STATEMENT CONFIRMED.
Geo. n Omohundro, Washington, salesman
for Nelson Morris, was called to the stand
"You have heard Mr.. Hoover's statement2''
asked Senator Vest.
"Yes, SIR"
sis it true?"
"Yes, SIR"
to him?"
II had instructions to sell to him at prices
two or three cents above the market rates"
For what reason?"
mo reason was given"
Are those instructions now in force?"
mo, sir"
Witness said he furnished meat to the Hamp-
ton institute, Va, and to various government
institutions in this city at regular intervals
He didn't know who had the contract; had
been told his employer had one, but had never
SCENT.
John N. Hoover, brother of W. H. Hoover.
confirmed the statement Of the latter as to the
refusal OF the representatives of the Chicago
dealers to sell HIM (witness) meat, because he
had bought for his brother. This boycott
lasted month or six weeks. 1t was lifted
its investigation.
ANY Of 'em will sell to me now" he said.
Witness said the prices of Chicago dressed
beer TO the retailer ranged from to cents a
pound.
This price included the whole animal, best
cuts and all. On a Accent beef witness said he
would make three or four cents a pound on the
animal, straight through. On a 7-cent animal
witness said he would not make much as the
market now is. This witness has no trade
which pays him twenty-five or twenty-five cents
pound for choice cuts of meat The beeves
he buys run from 500 to 600 pounds dressed
Santus Auth, butcher Of twenty-five years
experience, accompanied Mr.. w. H. Hoover on
his round to the Chicago dressed beef agents,
and confirmed the latter's testimony Of the re-
fusal OF the agents to sell their meat at all at
hrst, and afterward only at prices largely
above market rates.
ONLY ONE DRovER HERE.
sis it true" asked Senator Vest, that one
man, Mr.. William Clark, controls the home
swell, he's the only drover here, but don't
know that he controls the market"
James A. Hoffman, testified that his business
was that OF a butcher, but that at present he is
not engaged in doing anything"
II was with Nelson Morris until last summer, ("
he said.
He testified that the contracts for the gov
eminent institutions were divided among the
Chicago dressed beef men, and they took turns
In supplying it.
Major b. 7. Rittenhouse, secretary and
treasurer of the National Soldiers
Home, testified as to the manner of
letting contracts for meat for that
institution. The contract for furnishing beef
and mutton last year was with c. Lyman, who
Is In Swift 4 Co.'S Office here. Witness never
saw any other than Swift q Co.'S wagons deliy-
ering the meat. This year Santus Auth is the
contractor, and witness testified that the meat
he was delivering was said by those who took
care OF it at the home to keep longer and
better than Chicago dressed beef. Several
persons deliver to the house under this con-
tract, including Mr.. Carroll, who warned w. II.
Hoover last spring against bidding