The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-16
SAYS THEY LOST MONEY
A Claim That tue Government Paid
Less Than Butchers for Meat.


Less Than Butchers for Meat.
The National Provisloner, which has
been making an investigation Of the
charges IN reference 10 The meat supplied
70 the government during the war with
Spain, published yesterday another aru-
Gle giving the result OF It's in
yestigaUon. In previous artl-
Gle the Provlsioner showed that the dis
covery made by some one who told Of
seeing the meat treated with embalming
fluid injected into IL with big syrlnges
was nothing more than the regular pro-
cess, which goes on every day, OF inject
ing salt and water into the meat TO has
ten the process or corning. Yesterday the
paper showed the falsity OF the conten-
lion OF those who have declared that the
meat contractors had made millions out
OF their contracts.
mo one would deny 10 any business
concern" says the Provisioner, ''tha
right to a fair and a reasonable margin
of profit over and above all expenses
i'm producing the trade article. If the
American packers made this percentage
OF prOft over and above their added eN-
penses in producing the goods supplied,
The charge that they imposed upon me
government is either malicious or piece
Of cruel ignorance.
"As a matter of fact the packers lost
money on most of their contracts with
the government and were prepared to
lose il on the sentimental idea that a
business connection with our government
was a valuable trade advertisement.
There was the hope Of being saved this
loss bv the profits on emergency orders.
Here are facts from the records ana
from the open market reports on the
dates OF the acceptance OF these con-
tracts.
ION July 1, 1898. Armour & CO. were
awarded the contracts for Jacksonville,
Fla, and camns in vicinity al $685. per
100 pounds. Live cattle then were sell
ing IN Chicago at s. 20 81" per 100
pounds. This means that the poorest
beefer cost Sc when dressed into meat,
while tho average steer which cost $3.50
I'm the open market. was worth more
than 50 per 100 pounds in the dressed
carcass. The contract. however was for
1855. less than Z cents per pound. Butch
ers We're paying $3.50 TO $ per 100 pounds
for the same meat A steer Weighing
100 pounds on the h0Of will ordinarily
weigh about 60 20 100 pounds in the
carcass. This contract Is typical Of
them all. Now where is the margin
for the illegitimate millions OF profits 10
packers.
public does not, that If It were not for
the hoofs. hides, horns fat. trimmings
blood, offal, and other incidentals to the
slaughterlnR business tthese concerns
would have been ruined. The govern
ment purchased supplies far below the
wholesale market price. Many Of the
contractors have lost money because Of
the steady rise in cattle which they had
70 purchase 70 supply on these six
months contracts.
The packers BID against each other at
ru'nous prices for the prestige OF doing
the government business. That Is their
matter. In the face OF the facts OF tho
case the assault upon these concerns IS
unjust and lamentable. The cattle mar
ket and the contracts filed speak for
themselves Why not examine them?'
The Provlsioner gives the following
LIST OF the prnclpl contracts entered into
for refrigerated beef to be delivered at
noints named with the contract prices
and the price Of cattle on the hoof at
the date of making the contracts. Leav-
ing out the contracts dated November
7, 1898 and later. these are as follows;
Camp @. II. Thomas. May ~ 1898. 10
end OF encampment: Nelson Morris K
Co.. contractors-Price, Sil6 per ~"
pounds. Live cattle. $3.50 per 100 pounds
Der 81. 1898: Nelson Morris & Co, con-
tractors-Prlce. $3.50 per 100 pounds Cat
tie. A25 per 100 pounds.
Dunn Loring. Va. June 10, to July 49,
1855: Howensten CIV. CO, contractor
Price. $3.50 per 100 pounds. Cattle. $40
Cuba, Swift & Co.. contractors-From
July 1. 1898. to December 81. 1855; price.
s9T. Cattle. $3.50.
Jacksonville. Fla. and camps in vi
cinity Armour q, Co. contractors-Juiy
l. lSsS. 10 December 81. 1895: Price. ;6.s'.
Cattle $40.
Lakeland. Fla, Armour & Co.. con-
tractors-July l. 1898. to December 81.
1875: Price. $40. Cattle. A50
Port Tampa, Fla. and camps I'm yicini-
~. Armour & Co.. contractors-July T.
1895 to December 81 ises; Price. $40
Cattle, $40
81. Philip. Fort. La. J. 7. Burns. con.
tractor-July /, 1885, 10 December 81, 1885,
Price. AR Cattle. AD.
Porto Rico. swift = Co. soutraetossi