The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-13
THE BEEF COMBINE
Meeting Of the Interstate
Legislative Convention.
Endeaver TO Divers the Inwestixa,
tien-Cattiemen Ask Inspecsfon
ut the Poins OF Slaughter.

81. Lorss. March ia.-The rosund
al the Southern hotel was crowded
this morning by delegates to the Iegis-
lative conference 10 decide on meth
ods OF combating the beef eenbine.
The opinion among the delegates is
thar little difficulty viii be eexpersencei
in securing the passage OF any Law
which receives the approval Of the
convention The convention was
called to order this afternoon. tempo
rsry organization effected, commit
tees appointed. and the convention
took recess.
A lengthy preamble and resolution
were introduced by Albert Head OF
Iowa, reciting the evils OF the Chicago
and other combines. and declaring
that. as the state laws are inadequate
TO wholly remedy the evil complained
OF, congress should be requested to
pass law with adequate penalties pro-
hihiting any corporation. company or
individual from entering or becoming
a party to q pool, combination. trust
or confederation for the purpose of
regulating, fixing or controlling the
price of beef, pork. grain or other pro-
ducfsons of the country. ard that the
interstate commerce law be amended
so that it will work in harmony with
the law above requested Referred.
Draft of Illinois then offered q reso-
luton as follows: Resolved, That we
have been sent here TO investigate as
to the existence of a meat and beef
combine or trust. and its mode Of
operation and It's effect upon the prize
OF cattle and meat, for the purpose Of
basing upon our findings such
remedial legislation as NAV be neces-
sary and that can be lawfully enacted
by the different states
The object of this resolution, as
stated by members of the committee
on rules, was to switch the conyen-
tion of into consideration OF the ques-
ton whether such a thing as beef
trust or monopoly exists, and so d.
vert attention from the announced
purpose of the gathering. namely,
TO recommend needful legislation.
The resolution went to the committee.
Among other resolutions offered and
received was one that this convention
memorialized congress 30 make such
amendment to the interstate CON-
merce law as shall punish all interfer-
ence or discrimination by railroads in
the transportation of beef or pork in
any of its forms.
The convention adjourned until to-
morrow morning. IL Is rumored to-
night that the legislative committee
has reached the conclusion thatitdoes
not know why the convention wants
information rs to the existence of a
beef and pork combine or the need OF
legislation to check the growth of
dressed beef trusts. the existence OF
which the delegates are already aware
of.
Tonight the cattle-feeders held a
meeting and protested against the
efforts OF the butchers combine to
break down the dressed beef business.
Hon. Lafayette Funk of Illinois ad-
dressed the meeting. Resolutions
were adopted protesting against any
action on the part OF representatives
that win have the least tendency to
restrict or hamper the existing COM
petition for live cattle. and favoring
the most critical and impartial ma
tional inspection OF cattle and the pro-
ducts thereof at the place of slaughter
of the cattle.