The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-01-30
DRESSED BEEF.
THE VEST COMMITTEE RESUMES IT'S
SESSION ON-INvEsTIGATING THE
BEEF INDUSTRY.
RAILROADIsT ON THE: STAND
The Effect of Railway Rates Ion the Beef
Business Practical Statements
Bearing on the Question s.s. ==

WASHINGTON, January 2S.-The Vest
committee Iengaged in the investigation of
questions in regard to the beef industry,
resumed its session this morning and ex-
amined a number of railroad men.
John B. butcher, general live stock
agent of the New York Central railroad,
testified that the Central used stock cars of
its own and did not use palace cattle cars
The company had made experiments with
palace cars, and from reports of shippers
he did not believe there was any less
shrinkage in cattle from the use of palace
cars than from ordinary cars. On the con-
trary, where shipped in patent cars cattle
were more bruised and damaged than
when shipped in the ordinary way.
The New York Central at the very begin
ming had refused to pay mileage on cattle e
cars and had never made it a practice. An
exception was made, however, in the case
of cars containing horses, three. fourths of a
cent per mile each way being allowed.
| On dressed beef refrigerator cars the CON-
pany also allowed three-fourths of a cent a
mile, the rate having been cut down from
one cent. When the Trunk Line associa-
| ton agreed not to pay mileage any longer
| on palace cattle cars the roads were still
allowed to pay mileage on dressed beef.
Senator Vest-Then as between live cat
| tie and dressed beef you refuse to pay mile
| age on cars containing live cattle. but con-
tinue it as to dressed beef. Now Is that
rate simply rebate To the dressed beef
| men2
Witness-No, sir, don't think it is re-
| bate. but over and above what the refrigera-
| tor car is worth, it is slight discrimination
| in favor of the dressed beef men.
| Senator Vest-Then on refrigerator cal
which is heavier than cattle car and
therefore harder for your road to carry and
| involving the wear and tear you pay three
quarters of cent mile?
| Witness-Well, we get much higher
| rate on dressed beef.
Senator Vest-After you refused TO pay
| mileage to palace cars did you make any
deduction in the cost of transportation o.
| cattle2
| Witness-I think not. The Central, how
| ever save in exceptional instances, never
did pay the mileage on cattle cars. The
reason the trunk lines association refused
to continue paying mileage was that the
roads could not afford to do it and let theiI
own cars lie idle. The rate was so low there
was no profit to the companies after pay
ing mileage.
10 Senator Plumb witness stated ina
the company owned no refrigerator cars
and that dressed beef could not be trans
| shipped from car to car like cattle, so thai
with dressed beef refrigerator cars had to
be run from the initial to terminal points
Hollis J. Hayden, second vice president
of the New York Central testified that the
indications were that the Grand Trunk
railroad was continuing to pay the. mileage
of private cars Notwithstanding the trunh
line agreement, but that the Grand Trunk
strenuously denied the charge. In explain
alton of the fact that mileage was still paid
on dressed beef cars, witness stated
that the dressed beef busines:
years ago and shippers built theil
Town cars. The railroads had
not much confidence in the industry and
therefore never built cars of their own. SO
that when the business became a large
one the companies had no cars. The rail
roads had cattle cars, however, before the
cattle owners began shipping in their. owl
cars so they were able to transport all Tho
cattle offered
The witness in reply to Senator Vest said
the dressed beef men were compelled u
ship over the trunk line roads. He wal
then asked why they allowed the dresset
beef men three-fourths of a cent per mil'
on the cars when the roads would get tn
business anyway.
In answer to this question Mr.. Haydel
said it was very difficult to get a road il
the association to work in harmony excep
to limited extent. The railroads have
selfish intent-that of making money; bu
that makes it very hard TO get them L
agree on anything, and still harder to kee
them to it when it clashes with their inter
ests.