The independent., 1903-12-03
MONOPOLY PRICES
Former state senator stewart Tells About
the Markes Prices Of Live Stock
and Meats

Nebraska stockmen, out in "the cat
tie country who helped turn this
state over to the republicans in 1900,
are beginning to have nervous prostra-
ton when they make comparisons OF
market prices this year with those of
a year ago. The following letter from
Former State Senator H. G. Stewart
to the Mitchell Index is worthy Of
careful reading. He doesn't say any,
thing about the 'overproduction of
cattle and hogs" out his way, but he
does show that meat prices have risen
III to Is peE cent while the live ami
mails have declined in price 80 to 40
per cent. His letter follows:
DEDUCTIONS FROM THE
MARKETS.
Editor Index: This community is
especially interested in the cattle and
hog markets, and some deductions
therefrom may help them to discover
where they are at. We are assuming
that no one Is satisfied with the pres
ent range Of prices. No DOUBT some
would be ready to apply a remedy,
but first we must locate the cause.
BY glancing at the market reports
we notice that about the middle of Oc-
tober the price of hogs was $3.50: and
that the price at the same date one
year ago was $7.20, or loss to the
producer Of $1.90 per cwt. Retail
dealers who handle Omaha meats in
the larger cities of the state report
that the packers are charging 10 to
Is per cent more for dressed pork
now than one year ago. Result: the
packers by controlling both the buy
ing and selling prices are able this
year to buy hogs at 40 per cent less
and sell meat at Is per cent more,
making a profit of 55 per cent over
and above their profits of one year
ago.
Now how about cattle? About the
same date in October this year good
beef steers weighing 1900 pounds sold
for $40; same date one year ago the
same quality of steers sold for $6.25,
or $1.50 more than this year. Dressed
meat is 15 per cent higher this year;
SO they are buying cattle on foot at
30 per cent less and selling the meat
at 15 per cent more, making net
profit of As per cent over and above
their profits of year-ago.
OF course, 'it just happens that
way mo one is controlling prices"
o, no! There are no trusts" The
great trust smashers at Washington
attend to that!
Ii my memory serves me correctly
United States Attorney General Knox
about a year ago. sent into congress
long report in which he admitted that
there was a whole raft of trusts; and
he said if he had few salaried as
sistants, a stenographer and a few
clerks, new Office and 100000 in
cash, he could clean up the whole
batch in less than no time. He got
the clerks and the cash, the latter out
of the peoples pockets, and the clerks
for the people to pay. The results
are stated above. A few years hence
someone will inquire what has become
of that money, and few more thiev-
ing politicians will be leaving Wash
ington for parts unknown. A year
ago we were admonished to let well
enough alone; and we did so. We
were played for suckers. While we
sat down and let we'll enough alone
the packers were getting in their
work and advanced their profits so
per cent at our expense. Query: How
much did they pay Hanna for coming
out here and working the people?
What share of the horns, hide and
tallow goes to grease the machine for
another bunco game?
RI q STEWART