New-York tribune., 1902-05-28
BEEF PACK ERS' AGREEMENT
ABRUPTLY TERMINATED LAST THURS
DAY, WITNESSES IN STATE
INQUIRY TESTIFY.
[BY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUSE.l

Albany Nav 27-Attorney General Davies
ceeded to-day in getting considerable evidence be-
fore ex-Judge Judson S. Landon that the repre-
sentatives of the firms in the Beef Trust had
credit agreement under which they refused credit
to such butchers had failed to pay the bllls OF
any one of the members of the combination 1hls
agreement, however. was abruptly ended IN Troy
witnesses testified last Thursday, or after the
United States Court in Chicago issued its lnJunc-
ton order against the beef firms. 1t is a credit
agreement which IS said to have existed In Albany
for three years AS the price of meats, one Wit
ness from Troy said that he received orders from
Chicago weekly what prices TO charge.
Attorney General Davies in person conducted the
examination of witnesses regarding his complaint
against the beef packers. Mr.. Davies was assisted
by ]. n. Ffero and by Deputy Attorney Geheral
Mason.
William A. Cofey. a reporter of the mercantile
agency of r. G. Dun & Co. in Troy testified that
he the local arbitrator of the Beef Trust hrrs
in Troy up to Wednesday last. Then he was IN
formed that the packers had abandoned their
agreement. He furnished weekly with a hst
of the butchers that had not paid their bills. II
these butchers did not pay these bills within GER
tain time they were put on delinquent list and no
meat was given them unless they paid cash. Ihere
was fund in his control also to be used to pay
the fines OF the firms that violated the agreement
There were about thousand cases of deln-
quenCies reported to him each year.
Bruno A. Godosky, manager Tor Sch"arZschiu
g. Sulzberger in Troy. said that he had weekly
n
added: 81 don't know whether the men l refuse
credit to are creditors Of the firm or or not, o,rss-
When did you withdraw from the credlt agree
ment?' inquired Attorney General St Davies. ..1 re
ceived a letter from Mr.. Sulzberger telling me that
Il was party to any agreement should "i'"-
John r. Ruddy of Watervliet. and manager there
for Nelson Morris Co, confirmed the previous
Il took delinquent list to Mr.. Coffey and re,
ceived back one from him There were men on
the list other than had bought meat of me oo
When did you withdraw from this credlt agree
Last Thursday" answered Mr.. Ruddy, after
had received telephone message from John
Pavitt manager for Nelson Morris & Co. telling
me to withdraw from IT."
Was MIR Pavtt In New-York?' inquired Mr.
Davies briskly. having had a desire to have Mr.
Il don't know" answered Mr.. Ruddy. for he
John VI. HOurigan, OF Albany. said he was arbi-
traitor of the meat dealing firms In this city from
1896 TO 1899. and had examined the books OF tne
various firms. and had inflicted fines. The hne IN,
ficted distributed among the innocent firms
The agreement was credit one. and had nothing
TO do with the price OF meat
Theodore =. Wilcox. OF Albany. secretary of the
WestCott Express Company. testified that ne was
arbitrator OF thc meat dealing firms from 1880 TO
troll lie had full power to fine the representa- .
tives OF companies that disobeyed the agreement
In the of his term he imposed hve fines, the
maxim I'm being 800 and the minimum $50.
Charles La Fountain. manager for hammond &
Go. In this city, said the credit agreement came
from Other people and he was instructed TO act
under K. At present dealers used their own judg-
mept iu giving credit. The prices OF meats were
Henry Avery Of Paterson. N j.. said ne
salesman for Nelson Morris & Co. here in Albany
He lad been a manager for Armour & Co. and
swift e. Co While in Newly as a manager he
conducted the affairs OF OF the meat companies
under a credit agreement. Arthur Colby was the
denduents was sent the arbitrator every week.
The inquiry was adjourned to Wednesday next