Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-09-26

nois authorities show, that the weekly
meeting of the combines representatives
is on Wednesday; that they meet in room
at No. 21S La Sale street, Chicago, and
that representatives of all of the big
packing firms implicated are present.
Armour Co. are generally represented
by one Of p. D. Armour's sons, Nelson
Morris by one of his two sons, Swift
Go. by gentleman named Fowler.
Their method of proceeding in deciding
on the price to be paid by them for live
cattle at the yards is stated to be as fol-
lows: The members of the combine take
in rotation first, second, third and every
other choice possible with the number
which forms the combine. The question
of who shall have first, secoLd and third
choice, ETC., of cattle at the yards is al
ways thing set led. Every man in the
combine knows from one years end to
another his exact place in the line of buy
ers, though it is understood he may yield
his place to some fellow-member of the
combine If he sees fit, just as one may
give his place to another in barber
shop. They then settle the prices to be
offered by each member of the combine,
the highest price, of course, being for first
choice, and declining as they go down
through the line of choices. The result
of this arrangement is that members of
the combine never bid against each other
in buying live cattle, just as they never
come in contact in selling to retail butch
ers.
The member of the combine who he's
first choice at the yards picks out his cat
tie at the yards and offers that figure to
the owner which the combine has decid
ed on. That is the highest offer those
owners ever get for their cattle. If they
refuse to accept, the combine waits.
Meanwhile the yard charges are eating up
the cattle; the cattle themselves are also
shrinking in weight. The combine can
afford to wait much better than the live
cattle owners. Should, however, the live
cattle owners remain obstinate for per-
iod SO long that the combine becomes
pinched for its supply, then its own live
cattle are wired for and Immediately
shipped to the seat of war. Those live
herds which belong to the combine, on
such extraordinary occasions are not only
slaughtered to furnish what dressed beef
the combine may need to supply its Gus
TONERS, but system of fake sales is man
aged with them SO as to establish live
cattle quotations at figures which suit the
arrangements of the combine. The result
uf all this is that members of the combine
Invariably get live cattle at the figures
they decide upon.
In the case of retail butchers who rebel
and disobeY the combines commands the
method adopted for their punishment is
simple but effective. The combine estab-
fishes meat market of its own next door
to him and undersells him, no matter the
loss, until he is driven out of the business.
The governments testimony includes
hundreds of cases where market men have
been thrown into bankruptcy by this
feature of the combines methods to es-
tablish its monopoly.
Among other pieces of proof which the ,
officials in Washington rely upon to show
the existence of this beef combine, as
we'll as to indicate its methods touching
the shipments and sale of dressed beef, is
letter written by one VIM. Egenberger,
who subscribes himself as secretary" in
New York City, March %, 1895. This, by
the way, was right in the middle of the
untoward boom in beef prices. This let
ter is in the following words:
VIM. Egenberger, Secretary, Bryant
Building, Room 4S. Postoffice address,
Box A, So Liberty street. New York,
March %, 1895.-Nelson Morris, esq.,,
Union Stock Yards, Chicago, ILL.,: Dear
Sir-London representatives cable as fol
lows: available supply for week ending
March 30, $1,000 quarters, and for week
ending April 6, $1,000 quarters. We
would advise shipment for week ending
April 1s not to exceed 5000 carcasses.
Markets closed April ~. Lent ends
April Is. Expect light demands" Your
for week ending April Is will be SIS car
casses. Yours very truly,
VIM. EaENBERGER, Secretary.
1t is claimed by the authorities in
Washington that Egenberger is the secre-
tary for the combines interest in New
York City, and that the last paragraph
of his letter is ample proof that the Mel.
son Morris company, to whom the letter
is addressed, is a member of the beef
combine and that the combine itself ex-
lists. They say, too, that there will be no
trouble in developing the names of the
other members.
1t has also been developed by the ill.,
vestigation, and the proof is ample, that
another boom in beef prices ia in contem-
platon by the combination. For that,
among other reasons, considerable
energy will be shown in pushing the
prosecution of the combine, if the
governor and attorney general of Hi
nois can be gotten into the game.
On this last point, as stated before, the
M oh nrka pto;,,
doubt. Indeed, it is probable that the
Illinois authorities have been quietly con-
suited on that point and have signifed
their readiness to join forces with the
United States government in awar on the
great beef trust.
Considering that the assault on the beef
rust is to be made under the Illinois law,
and to be in its character state prose-
tuition, the question naturally occurs why
The authorities at Washington do not pro-
iced under the antitrust law passed by
congress. The reason is that President
his two attorney generals, o.
icy and Harmon, Secretary Morton and
Ill others concerned therein have decided
hat the national antitrust law is no good.
Is one cabinet officer said, "You can drive
! herd of cattle through it,"
1t was Secretary Morton who recon-
nended that the whole matter be turned
over to the Illinois authorities, proof.
md all, with the recommendation that
he members of the beef combine be in
licted under the state law, which the Off
ials here understand will hold water.
All the papers and proofs collected by
he investigation of the agricultural de-
,artment, together with report showing
he findings of DR.. Salmon, who conduct
ID it, are now in the hands of Attorney
General Harmon. 1t is expected that he
vii frame on them such recommends
ions as are made to the Illinois authori-