The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-12-25
LOOKS VERY
LIKE COMBINE
LATEST MOVE OF CHICAGO COM.
MISSION HOUSES.
COMPETE ONLY IN NAME
Discharge All Travelling Solicitors
and Compel Shippers to
Come to Them.
COMPETE ONLY IN NAME

Notwithstanding frequent and con-
tinued denial of it's existence, in the
opinion of the western cattlemen it
is becoming more apparent with each
succeeding day that the "beef COM
bine" is reality, an actuality that
all the denials at the command OF
those responsible for it's formation
cannot overcome. Events OF recent
occurrence tend only to strengthen
this belief. as they make reasonably
clear conditions that have arisen dur
ing the past season and make it very
evident that even though there is no
actual combination of packers and
commission men they have arrived
at thorough understanding and es-
tablished Community of interests"
as complete and perfect as any that
exists in the cases of consolidation
of factors in any one particular in
dustry.
Letters received during the last
few days from Chicago contain the
information that because of changed
conditions existing on the meat mar
ket there the different commission
houses have decided to dispense with
the services of travelling solicitors,
who have been one of the features
of each shipping season in the state,
and that hereafter none will be sent
out. The statement says that all
the houses have become parties to the
new arrangement and that men who
have been in their employ for years
are now seeking employment else
where. The order extends not only
to the range states and territories,
but to every state where such solici-
tors have been maintained.
No More Reports.
T. of the commission houses who
have been doing business with Mon
tana stockmen none, perhaps, is so
we'll known throughout the state as
Rosenbaum Bros. & Co., who have
kept six men each summer soliciting
consignments from Montana. They
probably handled more than any other
concern, as they seem to enjoy great
er popularity among the shippers OF
| the state than almost any other house.
| A feature of each season has been
i the daily reports of sales sent out
by this house and the weekly printed
bulletins. Other firms did likewise,
but their reports and bulletins did
not have as large circulation. Now,
/ 1t is said, that hereafter no more
telegraphic reports OF sales are to be
sent out and that publication Of the
bulletins is also to be suspended.
If this proves to be true, 1t will be
matter Of considerable seriousness
to the Montana shippers. They will
have no guide as to the market and
must take their chances on shipments
Furthermore, they will have to LOOK
up commission house to handle their
animals after their arrival on the
market, instead Of having those mid
dlemen come to them and arrange
beforehand for marketing what they
may have to sell.
Apprehensive Of Future.
The news of the discontinuance o.
travelling solicitors by the commits
sion houses is accepted by the stock
men as complete proof of the charge
made by them last summer that 9
combination had been formed IL
which the commission men, as vel
as the packers figured. Regarding
the situation in this light, many arr
inclined to be apprehensive as t<
next season and look for continue
tion of low prices. II an understand
ing so complete as that indicated b,
the discharge Of their solicitors couls
be arrived at between them. the!
. say, It will be comparatively cas-,
matter tor the commission houses t
also agree upon the prices that ar
!. to be paid to shippers Of livestock.
With the railroads making grea
inroads upon their returns by CON
pelling them to pay return fares TO
themselves and attendants sent wit
stock shipments, and combination
formed for the purpose Of keepin
down prices and the ever recurrin