Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-02
NEAT ruaSspoRrArroS.
Vests Committee ON the Transpor-
fatIon and sale OF Meat.

MEAT TRANSPORTATION.
vests Committee ON the Transpor.
tatIon and sale OF Neat
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The re-
port Of Vests committee accompany
ing the bills handed TO the Senate
today regarding the transportation
and sale u meat products Is very
lengthy one. The committee says
that when the examination Of wit
nesses began In 81. Louis Il was
evident that conflicting influences
were at work, especially IN the
international Cattle Range Associa-
ton, and that industrious efforts
were being made TO prevent the
inquiries Of the committee affecting
injuriOusly the dressed beef Interests
OF Chicago. %
There was no diversity Of opinion
among tie witnesses as 10 prices
and to the fact that the methods OF
selling heef cattle has been entirely
revolutionized during the past ten
years. The revolution took the
form Of concentration OF the make;
for cattle at a few points, with the
controlling market Of Chicago.
This change, the committee says, is
due principally to the fact that few
enteIprisiDg men Of Chichago are
able, through their enormous capital,
to centralize and control the bust
ness at that point.
THE DRESSED BEEF
aud canning business Is practically
IN the hands Of four establishments
at Chicago, Armour * Co SWiit
& Co, Nelson Morris x Co., and
Hammond * Co. Whatever differ
ence Of opinion is expressed US to
the existence Of q combination be-
tween these firns no. 10 bid against
each other in the purchase OF catile,
there was no hesitation ON the part
Of witnesses, even when obviously
prejudiced in favor Of the packers,
In stating that the central market
was absolutely In the grasp Of three
or four houses il they chose TO cxer-
ciscit- Asa result OF the influence Of
these houses, the committee noticed
a reluctance on the part OF cattle
raisers and commission men h testi-
~ 10 facts or opinions which might
prejudice them in future trans1c-
tons.
The principal inquiry which the
committee was directed 90 make
was as 10 the existence Of cOmbina-
tions, by reason u which prices In
beef and beef cattle hal been -
controlled and affected rs 90 di-
minish the prices paid the producer
without lesseuing the cost VI meat
to the CONSUMERS. TIE facts de-
veloped, the committee thinks, pre-
sent overwhelming prouf Of such
combinations.
The committee quotes q statement
from ArmouT's testimony, that
cattle have increased more rapidly
than the popular demand during
the last five years, from which lie
argued that the low prices Of beef
cattle were partly due 10 production.
This Argument, the committee
states, Is not warranted hy the facts
aud the committee has no hesitation
Ia stating that = combination exists
in Chicago, which controls the mar Z
ketand fixes the price of beet cattle .
in its own Interests aud the mil- .
road cOmpanies'.
AS To REMEDIES,
the committee says that Congress, I
in the bill recently passed by the Z
Senate. ON the subject Of trusts, has I
gone as IN as its POWER extends. !
state legislation must supplement I
that by Congress 10 punish CUm- /
blnss operating within state lines,
and active, intelligent officers must |
be found TO enforce the laws en- I
acted.
In conclusion the committee s7ys: /
"lf the cattle raisyrs Of The UuItld 4
States are only true 10 themselves, /
the immediats future promises &C.
livvrauce from .he present evils
The worst feature % the cattle trade
Is the fact that 80 many COWS aui
calves are being thrown upon the
market. the indication being that
the producers are panic stricken ami
anxious II realize now, without t.
gand to the future. There wCre
marketed n. Chicago during thepast /
year 3, 02S,.s5 cattle, o! which from {
twenty-five % thirty per cent were
cows, ami four per cent calves. The (
cattle raisers shOsld he The most
judges as % their own
interests, hut II they viii ACCEPT a
suggestion FUN the committee they
will cease marketing their breeding
and immature stock and diligently
prepare for a larger supply and
future. IL is only quss-
ton Of tiidc, and . very brief time.
when the problem viii be th1t uf
our own people with
beef. without regard 10 foreign I
n1arketa -