Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-17
John Morrell & Co. not in the Beef
Trust.
LOCAL CONDITIONS NOT AFFECTED
Beef, it is Stated by Representative
of Local Packing Company Not Be-
ing Sold by Them at Prices Made
by the Alleged Combine.

There is no connection existing be-
tween the Ottumwa packing house and
the beef trust, which it is alleged ex-
lists among some of the packing con-
Germs throughout the west" said one
of the managers OF John Morrell &
Co. this morning. He further stated
that the business of the local concern
was conducted without reference to
or connection with any similar con-
cern and that so far as the matter of
the beef trust affected the local busi-
ness there was no knowledge in this
city that such a combine existed.
Local Conditions.
1t is the opinion of the local packers
that the beef trust, which is causing
so much discussion in Kansas City and
the vicinity, has no effect upon the
conditions which surround the indus
try in this city. 1t is evident that the
prices of live stock is far in advance
of the usual figure, but this it is stated
is due to shortage of cattle rather than
the effects of the trust. Notwithstand-
ing the high prices of beef in this city
it is stated that,the industry is at pres
ent being conducted in this city on a
very close margin and that there was
at present much beef being sold by the
packers at cost and in no case was it
going at prices that would indicate
more than fair, profit for the packer.
Shortage of Stock.
1t is stated thatsthe shortage in
stock this spring is largely due to the
drought of the past summer and fall .
This fact it is claimed has caused thou
| can1s c of hnn1 of L. fD h !
into the, market long before they would
have been had conditions been normal.
Feeders have been content to put their
stock upon the market in very much
inferior condition to that in which
they generally are. offered for sale.
The Trust
AS has been stated there is no con
nection of the Ottumwa packing con-
lcern with the beef trust which is said
to exist. Kansas City and the terri
tory which it supplies seems to be the
part most affected by the alleged trust.
1t is stated that last Monday was the
first day on which rate card was not
issued by the firms which are suppos-
ed to be in this combine to their sales
men, on which the quotations were
identical. This plan, it has been
claimed, has been in use by them to
keep the prices on products at the top
figures and any violation of this plan.
| it is stated, has met with a most Sc
we're punishment for the members of
| the trust.
Investigation Expected.
1t is stated that there is to be an
investigation of the condition of af
fairs in Kansas City made by the fed
eral grand jury of the western dis
trict of Missouri in the matter of the
beef combine. 1t is thought by many
that this body will have no Gjfficulty
in finding enough facts to convince il
that there is a beef trust existing but
that it had advantage of the present
abnormal condition of the live stock
market in the sale of its products. The
belief in this direction is so strons
that it is claimed that the beef trus
instead of bearing it's share of the
burden imposed upon the butchers, ho
tel and boarding house propretors b,
the scarcity of live stock, is wringins
from them even a larger profit than
year ago when the conditions were
normal There seems to be little
doubt in the minds of many that thu
4 grand jury will have little difficulty in
i finding that combine EXISTS, but tha
as to whether this trust has been us
ing it's agreement as a means of com
mitting frauds, will in all probability
cause the jury much perplexity.