Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-17
AFTER THE TRUST.

The fight against the so-calcd beef
trust Is on In earnest. The attorney
general Of Missouri has filed in the
supreme court OF the state, a petition
for custer against certain packing COM
panios, asking that they be ousted from
their franchises TO do business In Mis-.
souri,, on account Of their alleged ylo-
latlon Of state laws. On the Goth Of
this month the packers will be required
TO show cause why they should not be
deprived OF the rights and privileges
delegated to them by charter
During the hearing preceding this
step 1t was shown, It is claimed,
that n combination existed 20 strange
competition and to regulate prices,
and that advantage was taken Of this
condition. According to the Kansas
City Star, Il was shown by testimony
that the representatives Of the pack
ing interests held their weekly meet
ings, compared notes as TO business
done, and fixed on prices for the COM
ing week. II the majority favored the
prevailing prices there would be no
advance, no matter what the minority
might think about II. and II the major
ity voted for an increase In prices, the
minority were compelled to raise their
price marks. even though they were
making good profit at the old price
and knew that the proposed advance
was without warrant.
Fines were imposed upon members
Of the combine, that did not keep the
agreement. Packers would sometimes
cut the established prices and trust to
the silence Of the retailers. but when
ever they were discovered they were
fined The testimony further showed
that the cost OF meat to the butchers
often was raised to an unwarranted
height, when cattle cost the packers
81 more on the hundred the advance to
the butchers was made 81, When the
advance TO the packers was $3.50, the
raise to the butchers was 80 In all
cases the consumer eventually paid the
entire increase.
The charges preferred In Illinois
against tho packing houses are OF a
similar character. The bill filed al
leges conspiracy IN fixing prices and
accepting rebates from railroads. II
goes into details concerning secret
meetings OF the packers TO fix prices
and deals with the charges made at the
yards to which the stockraisers of
the country object.
Some peculiar business methods, Il Is
said, have come TO light during the pro.
ceedlngs, The combination occasionally
advances the price on stock for a few
days, This gives the combine a chance
to say that the raise that they make in
the price Of meats Is justified by the
high prices they are compelled TO pay
for the live animal. This Is the first
thing But It serves stlll more I'm.
port0nt purpose. The announcement OF
higher prices on stock makes the stock
raisers rush IN their stock In order to
take advantage Of the price Then there
comes a glut and the prices are re-
duced. With everything filled up with
I've stock. the combine Ia able to buy
cattle at their own price, as all that
have been shipped must be sold, as the
loss In holding them would be too
great It Is high time that the gov
eminent should place hand on business
that is manipulated In this manner in
defiance Of the laws Of supply and de-
mand And II the laws are inadequate
TO correct such abuses, the laws need
fixing up, In the meantime. the peo-
pie should keep the fight up. The fall
Ing of in consumption OF meat Is sure
to bring the combination to terms SOON |
err or later, and the people would be |
the gamers by that policy.