, 1890-05-08
A BIG BEEF COMBINE.
Report of the Investigating
Committee.
PRICES FIXED IN CHICAGO
No Doubt About tho Existenoo o
the Trust--Advico to
Raisers.

WAsnisGtos, May 1.-The report OF
Mr.. Vests committee accompanying tho
bills handed TO the senate to-day regard
ing the transportation and sale OF meat
products, is u very lengthy one. The
committee says that when tho examina-
tlon OF witnesses began In st. Louis there
were the evident conflicting influences
at work, cspccially'in tho International
Cattlo Range Association, and th.t great
efforts were being made to prevent tue
inquiries Of the committee from aiicct-
ing injuriously diseased beet In tho In
lercsts Of Chicago. There was no diver
,lty Of opinion among the witnesses as
to the prices, aud as To the
faot that the meihodi OF SELL
ing beef cattle had been entirely rev
olutionized in tho pnst ten yeats.
The resolution took the iOTm of con-
centration of the market for cattle at n
few points. with the controlling market
ut Chicago. This change, tho commit
tee says IL due principally to the fact
that "a few eutorarsing men at Chicago
are aole through their enormous capital
10 cenfraize and control the business at
that point. Tho dressed beef and can
ming business is practically In the hands
Of four establishments at Chicago, Ar
mour & Co., swim a CO., Nelson Morris
* Co.. and Hammond & Co. Whatever
difference in opinion Is OK
pressed as TO the existence OF a
combination between theso firms,
there was no hesitation on the part Of tho
witnesses when obviously prejudiced IN
favor of the packers in stating that the
central market was absolutely in the
grasp of these iour houses, II they chose
10 exercise IT, As result OF the iniiu.
cnce of these houses the committee
noticed reluctance on the part OF the
cattle raisers and commission men to
testify to facts or opinions which might
prejudice them In future transactions.
The principal inquiry which the com
mittce was directed TO make was as to
the existence OF combination by reason
OF which the prices of cattle have beon
controlled, and diminished prices pnid
ihe producers without lesscn NJ the cost
OF meut to the consumers. The facts de.
feiopcd, tie committee think, prove
overwhelmingly that such com bina-
tion exists.
the committee quotes the statement
from Armour, that cattle Increased more
l.piuii thaH NhV IoPUthtioh ~
the last five years. from which
ne Argued that the low prices
of beef cattle were panty due to
tile production. The argument, the COM
mittce states, II not warranted by the
fact, and the committee has no hcsita-
tton In stating that there is a com bina-
zion at Chicago which controls the
market and fixes the prize Of beef cattle
In It's own interests.
As 10 the remed los the committee say
that congress, In the bill recently passed
by the senate ON the subject of trusts
mas gone rs far as its power extends
state legislation must supplement that
10y laws TO punish combines operating
within the state lines, and nctiye, intelli-
gent officials must be found TO on force
the laws enacted.
In conclusion the committee says;
'Il the caltlc.raiscfs oftbe United States
are only true 20 themselves, the immedi-
ate future promises deliverauce from the
present evil. A good feature of the cat
tie trade is the fact that 50 many COWS
and calves arc being thrown upon tho
mnrket, the indication being that the
producers are pnnic.stricken and anxious
to realize now, without regard to the iu-
ture. There were marketed al Chicago
during the past wear 3O23, 2Sb cattle, of
which from % to 90 per cent.
were cows aud 4 per cent.
were calves The cattlc-raiscrs should
be thc most competent judges Us to their
own interests but, IL they viii accept n
suggestion from the committee, they
will cease marketing their breeding and
immature stock Gnd diligently prepare
Tor larger supply and a brghterflturc.
II is only question of time, and n very
briei time. when the problem will be
that Ut supplying our own people with
beef without regard to the foreign mar
keth