Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-02
DROP IN The SALE OF NEAT
Consumption of Beef Fails Of Thirty-seven
and a Half Per Cent.
ADMITTED BY LEADING CHICAGO PACKERS
Resolution Of People to Eat No Meat
Causes the Heavy sIumP-Mar-
ket Sustained by Ex-
port Trade.

admitted by leadlng packers seen ny q re-
porter today. The percentages given av-
erage the calculations Of the packers seen.
The market held STEADY during the fore
noon. chiefly. 1t was said, because demand
export orders were being filled. One thou
sand beef cattle mot 10000, as reported)
we're left over from yesterday. Opinions
varied as to whether trade today would
clean up the 5000 head received. One buyer
declared that there would be more than
1000 head left over, while another ex-
pressed the opinion that the export busi-
ness would clean up the lot.
A representative of one Of the packing
houses said that the yards have received
5000 head Of cattle today; a year ago the
receipts were 1871 head. Receipts for
April we're estimated at approximately 14O,-
900 head less than for the same month a
year ago.
The bill for injunction to be filed against
the s~o-called beef combine Is completed and
as Judge Day, the representative Of the
Department Of Justice, probably will leave
for the east tomorrow evening. all that
remains to be done, 1t is stated unoficially,
Is 10 walt for word from Washington to
act.
The attorney general has a copy OF the bill
as II has been prepared in Chicago and
District Attorney Bethea, while authorized
to go ahead on his own account and proceed
as he may see At, probably will await the
attorney generals order as to the time OF
filing the bill.
Butchers Fear
KANSAS CITY, May 1.-E. C. Crow, at
torney general Of Missouri, and his assist
ant, S. B. Jeffries, arrived in the city
from Jefferson City to get evidence to prove
that there is a packing house trust. Mr..
Crow did not remain here long. but went
to st. Joseph to talk with retail butchers
in that city. Mr.. Jeffries had a conference
with several retail butchers. Later he said:
There is a beef trust operating in Mis-
retail butchers will help the attorney gem
eral and myself to get evidence;
However, the butchers that l met here
today fear the power Of the packers, and
for that reason It is very difficult for me
10 get the evidence needed.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo, May 1.-Attorney Cen
eral Grow of Missouri, who arrived in ST.
Joseph this morning to investigate the
status Of the alleged beef trust, has been
making a personal canvass Of the retail
butcher shops today.
He says he has gathered much evidence,
but declines to enter into a detailed state
ment.
The fact that the largest packing houses
In the state Of Missouri are located In st.
Joseph makes this city one Of the main
points Of inquiry, and numerous witnesses
will be from here to attend the
hearing at Jefferson City May 6.
Evidence Hard to Get.
Mr.. Jeffries believed that a butchers
union exists here similar to the organiza-
ton Of retail butchers in st. Louis, but he
cou.l find no evidence of such an organ
ization. After much effort Mr.. Jeffries
persuaded & number of retail butchers to
meet him. The conference was held be-
hind closed doors aud all the butchers
asked Mr.. Jeffries to refuse to make pub
lie their names.
The conference. was so secret that neither
the meeting place nor the names Of any of
the butchers was divulged. After the con-
ference Mr.. Jeffries said:
you could not get satisfactory replies
from the butchers, After we talked a few
minutes all the butchers who were at the
conference asked to be excused from testify
ing against the packers. | will have some
Kansas City butchers in Jefferson City
whe- the case comes up Tuesday, but ! will
be compelled to ask the supreme court to
order them to appear. / have no author
iy to subpones anyone else, but the court
will Issue the orders II I make the re-
quest.
Inc packers COmolne seems TO De more
powerful In Kansas City than In st. Louis
or st. Joseph. There is no butchers union
here and l have reason to believe the
packers have prevented the retail butch
ers from organizing"
Mr.. Jefries started for Jefferson City to-
night.
No Packers at Conference.
NEW YORK. May ALFRED F. Bullows
Of this city. chairman Of the republican
club committee which was recently APP
pointed TO investigate the alleged com
blnation Of packers, has gone to Washing
ton for a conference with Attorney Genera
Knox.
No packers were represented at the con.
ference. however. When the committee as
sembled for Its final meeting telegTamI
we're read from ]. o. Lyman. Michael
Cudahy, Nelson Morris, j. Ogden Armour
and Gustavus Swift expressing the regrets
Of the senders that they were unable /,
attend the conference. The text OF thes,
kilograms was not made public.
Chairman Bullowa and the other members
of the committee expressed their surprise
when shown a dispatch from Washington
in witch Attorney General Knox expressed
the opinion that the call for the conference,
was un~warFanted.
Chairman BulloWa said;
Our idea In inviting the packers to tn,
conference was 60 secure for them theil
day in court and pending the determine
ton OF the action which the government
authorities purpose taking, bringing abou
some understanding which will be for tn,
interest of all concerned. The packer
whom we asked TO meet the attorney gen
eral with us have declined TO take ad
vantage OF the opportunity and we will
therefore, now so ahead and cooperate
with the legal authorities for the purpos,
or bringing them to time.
BunOwa Talks with KnOx.
WASHINGTON. May 1.-Mr. Alfred NJ
Bullowa. chairman Of the committee ap
pointed by the Republican club of New
York for the purpose Of cooperating will
the federal authorities and with the at
torney general Of New York state In tn
matter OF the alleged beef trust, saw Az
torney General Knox today and explainel
to Mr.. Knox the work done by his commit
tee and the Information IL has obtained
The attorney general invited the commit
tee 10 send In any evidence 1t has e~ollecte
and said he would be glad to receive evi
denee from any private citizen as we'll.
Mr.. Bullowa also has had several con
ferences with Senator Plat OF New Yor
on the subject. He Informed the attorne