The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-24
CENSURE FOR MORTON
Omaha Live Stock Exchange
Follows st. Louis.
BEEF LlkELYToGosT STILL HIGHER
Morton Says the Statement of the ST.
Louis People Confirms State
ments About the Combine.

Omaha, April 2S.-The Omaha live stock
exchange today cansured Secretary of
Agriculture Morton for his erroneous
ideas. a present working TO the great
detrimeut OF the cattle interests OF the
country IN creating a wrong impression
as 10 the relative cost of cattle and beef.
After reciting the manner OF his inves-
tfgation xhe following resolution was
adopted: BE IL resolved, that we, ths
members OF the South Omaha Live Stock
Exchange. call the attention of the hon.
o-abie secretary of agriculture and the
country az large 10 the fact that during
the first three months OF the present year
cattle receipts at Chicago. with a full
corn crop in Illinois. Indiana and ada
cent territory. fell of II per cent. as
against 1894; Kansas City's receipts fell
of u per cent, Notwithstanding a hig In
crease in Tasas shipments. and Omaha,
in the very heart OF the drouth-striken
country, fell of 81 per cent. On account
of this shortage cattle prices advanced
from 81 10 s. per 100 pounds, as compared
with year ago. and the higher prices
for beef naturally followed. With the
higher prices for beef, and the press agi-
tation on this subject. consumption fell
off. and cattle values declined in conse-
quence. We regard the present depression
IN cattle values however, as only tempo
rary, as the indications are that the next
three months of this year will witness a
further reduction in available cattle sup
ply OF fully 30 per cent. We are salts
fed that there can he no combine posi-
BILE among the beef packers on account OF
the increased number of buyers in all the
leading markets and the diversified inter
ests represented by them"
Washington City, April 2S.-Secretary
Morton was shown the resolutions adopt
ed by the St. Louis live stock exchange
zs-.fsa
about the alleged packers combine. and
attributing the reductions in the price or
live cattle OF Is cents per loo pounds in
the last two weeks 10 such agitation. He
said the very statement of the St Louis
live stock exchange would lead 70 the be-
lief that the alleged combine of dressed
beef concerns existed.
IF the agitation. as they term it said
he, has caused decline in the price of
cattle on the hQof why is IT similar
lamtty has not occurred in the price of
dressed beef? Ii remains the same. and
in some cases is even higher. Their own
stsatement. coupled with the prices OF
dressed beef. answers their complaint"
Chicago. April 2S-The Chicago live
stock exchange adopted set OF resolu-
tions setting forth that cattle receipts at
the four principal Western markets so
far have been 10000 head less than for
the same period of 1894. and as a result
prices have advanced. causing a CORE
spending increase in wholesale prices of
dressed beef. The resolutions declare ex-
aggerated reports and false conclusions
have been widely circulated as to the
cause of the recent advance in prices.
and that such 'unfounded reports have
caused the decreased consumption of beef
resulting in a decentralization OF the trade
and consequently lower prices for cattle"
The exchange requests the public 10
withhold judgment until the department
of agriculture shall have thoroughly in
Vestigated the matter. IL further pro-
noUnces the present agitation, based upon
the cisin,s Of conspiracy among large
dealers. unju-t and injurious, and
the statements set forth are substantially
untrue. and the whole industry is de-
pressed thereby. and the interests OF the
feeders and shippers Of the whole country
placed IN jeopardy.