The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-20

The meat dealers of the city had an
rear of Radon & Williams market on
Second South street The proceedings
were long-drawn out and at times quite
tropical. 1t was intended that the meet
ing,s incidents should not be given pu-
bdcity in the newspapers, for President
George Ward, the smoOthest one Of the
lot was delegated 10 be the spokesman
for the crowd.
That the newly-organiZed butchers as
sOciAJiOn was working on plan last
night to spring another surprise on the
public cannot be doubted. Every one OF
the score or more of members present
surrounded the meetings Affairs With an
air of profound secrecy. Each one 0e-
referred the INQUIRER 10 Presl-
Clined TO answer any questions and
tons and refe Ttd the :nqUiya to Presi-
dent Ward for information, but the presi-
dent himself was non-cOmmlttal, beyond
denying that the association intended 10
raise the price of meats to consumers,
and affirming that the only business done
was in accomplishing, for mutual protec-
ton. the complete blackliStng OF dead
beat customers.
threads Of the Packing Trust.
1t is known. however, that much of the
warm talk was over the invasion of the
eastern packing concerns into the best
had The COOl-headed members wanted TO
placate the packing house concerns by
buying their meats from Cudahy, Armour
and hammond, in order to induce them to
withdraw from the hotel and restaurant
trade, but the far-SeelnS ones feared that
as soon as the meat trust got the cinch
prices would inevitably have 10 be raised,
and no local slaughterers would be then
in business to ease up the situation when
consumers cried for mercy.
President Ward was given a few raps
for having, IL was alleged, used his Ell
forts to steer the Salt Lake meat dealers
into the lutches of the mighty packing
house trust which in other cities has
driven MANY small dealers to the wall.
The accused president succeeded in dlS-
Suading several If his c0llea gueS from
their susDicions. but others still believed
he is hdnd-and-glOVe with Armour & Co.,
who have lately entered this field Tor bust
ness demanding that dealers buy from
them under pain Of having this strong
rival compete for retail trade.
The association win have another meet
ing next Monday night
Caught Armour for License.
The threatened hosulities between the
| local meat dealers and the Representative
/ of the big eastern packing houses has
| proved a source of income TO the city
4 treasury. All along Treasurer Morris has
| believed that Armour q Co. were liable
/ for the naVment Of meat dealers license
/ at the schedule rate of 500 Der year, but
/ ne mas lacked until now the evidence 70
| stick the COMPANY. 1t is true. however,
( that Armour & Co. have paid a brokers
/ license Of 50 wear but this did not
/ satisfy the eVer-WatchfuI license col
/ lPct0.
| Yesterday morning. after Treasurer
/ Morris had read in The Herald the open
| declaration of Armour & Co.'S local man
1 ager H c WertZ- that his company was
! engaged in the business of selling meats
/ in this CITY to retailers and consumers,
| he send word TO Manager WertZ that the
Zig WAS uD' and hereafter Armour &
| Co must nav CITY license Al the rate OF
/ $50 yearly for whOleSaline meats. IN
der pain of prosecution in the police
! court Mr. Wertz assured the treasurer
I that he would nav ND tomorrow
Treasurer Morris reports that the pack
! ing Muses. of Cudahv and Hammond are
| paving the TOP license rate but there are
other like concerns represented here
} which are booked for Investigation Since
the trouble broke out between the local
/ meat dealers and the hacking house rep
r6SentativeS the citv treasurer has been
given ample evidence of the liability OF
| outside concerns which have wholly or in
part heretofore evaded navment OF the
| license tax The result nf Treasurer Nor
ris' application of the information lately
received bv him from aggrisVed rivals
will result in a substantial gain in the
I city revenues