Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-09-26
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 26.
A Eight 10 The FINISH.

flGhI III ihe FINISH.
The American beef combines sin has
found it out. When beef touched the re-
markable figure of 80 cents a pound in
the markets at the east last spring the
New MEXICAN made frequent reference to
the treatment the beef raisers of the west
had long received at the hands of the con-
spirators in Chicago. 1t charged the ex-
istence there of an organized combine
which was squeezing the cattlemen Of the
west for low prices of live stock on the
one hand and on the other squeezing the
consumers at the east for high prices for
beef on the block. The New MEXICAN
further charged that the John Sherman
antitrust law, so-called, was powerless to
reach these conspirators; that, indeed,
this act of Republican congress was so
framed, and Intentionally, as to empower
the beef trust, and all other trusts, to
carry on their nefarious work of robbing
the people without molestation by the
government authorities. These charges
have now all been verified as correct.
Word comes from Washington to the
effect that it has been determined on the
part of the United States authorities
thnt is, on the part of President Cleve-
land, Attorney General Harmon and Sec
rotary Morton-to turn over all the
proofs which the department of agricul-
ture has been able to collect in its late
Investigation touching high priced beef
to tho attorney general of the state OF
Illinois.
These proofs will be accompanied by
the suggestion that in the Judgment of
the national officers this proof shows con-
clnsively that an illegal combination ex-
lists at Chicago for the purpose of affect
ing the prices of beef and other meats;
that the combination Ia clear violation
of the law of the state of Illinois against
trusts, and the attorney general and gov
ernor of the state will be asked to thor
oughly 90 over the proofs and specifica-
tions which the United States authorities
have thus furnished, and, acting on them,
procure the indictment in the state courts,
particularly the criminal court of Cook
county, of those whose names appear as
violators of the law.
Among others whose names are promi-
nent on the list thus suspected Of violat-
ing the antitrust law are those of the
members of the firms of Nelson Morris i
Co., Hammond & Co., Armour & Co. and
Swift e. Co.
There are others besides these, and it
is the understanding that the evidence
collected by the agricultural department
during the summer and spring includes at
least nine of the big packing and proyi-
sion firms whose headq uarters are at Chi
cago.
1t is said in Washington by those who
should know the most about it, and who
- l. - -. A,;., e..
in matter so important, that the proof
in the case is absolute 80 far as proving
the guilt Of the parties whose names will
be given to the governor of Illinois and
his attorney.
The investigation has necessarily been
slow. 1t proceeded by wire and by letter,
and through personal agents of the de-
partment. It extended its inquiries into
every part of the country. As a result the
conclusion has been reached that the rise
in dressed beef prices last spring was at
least nine-tenths artificial to perhaps one
tenth natural, and that the people who
caused it SO far as it was artificial were
the Armours, the Hammonds, the Swifts,
the Morrises, acting in conjunction with
Others engaged in beef Strengthening In
Chicago. Not only has the investigation
convinced the officials at Washington that
this rise in beef was brought about mainly
by the effort of the Chicago slaughterers,
but that the effort itself was exerted |
through unlawful combination amounting
to nothing less than extortion, and all in
direct violation of the Illinois antitrust
law made for cases of the kind.
It was found from the proof that the
cattle raisers of the west, the ranchmen as
we'll as the farmers had neither part nor
profit in this rise In the prices of dressed
beef. But little more was paid for live
cattle by the elaughterers in the months
of March and April of this year than was
paid the year before. Yet, while the
slaughterers bought ut practically the
same prices as formerly, they tremendous
ly increased the price of dressed beef to
retail butchers all over the country. To
cut this part short, investigation showed
that the only people who made any profit
out of the rise in beef were the Chicago
slaughterers, and they made it all.
As investigation probed into the meth
DDS of the great beef combine, it was dis
covered that their arrangements were
complete for bearing and breaking down
the price of live cattle. They had prac-
biOot OohuIOl Vi buuCA- ydEub, ANU Iu-
deed, it some instances had Chicago,
Omaha and Kansas City, as we'll as many
other important cattle depots in the coun-
try. They maintained also reserve of
live cattle, their own property, on ranges
of their own, which would be marched
Immediately upon the market at mo-
ment's signal in the event that other live
cattle owners became obdurate and stuck
for high prices; that is, prices higher than
the combine cared to pay.
Every day from all parts of the country
agents of the combine, frequently in the
employ of railroads, wired the combines
headquarters at Chicago exactly the mum.
Der of cattle on their way to market, their
condition and all other facts necessary in
the case.
Each week representatives of the com.
bine held meetings at their headquarters
TO decide what prices should be paid for
live cattle, as we'll as to apportion to
zach member of the combine the number
Of cattle hs should buy, whether he would
have first, second, third or some further
,hoics, and the price he should pay. 4
These representatives Of the combine
llso decided, on advices received from
New York and other points in the east,