Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-22
BEEF TRUST INQUIRY
MR.. MARTIN CONFERS WITH
CoRTELYoU AND GARFIELD.
Member From South Dakota Aids De-
partment and is Satisfied With
Progress Made.

Representative Martin of South Dakota.
under whose resolution the Department of
commerce and Labor is investigating the
beef Industry of this country for the pur-
pose OF determining whether there exists a
combination Injurious to the interest of the
general public, within the last two days
has held important conferences with Sec
rotary Cortelyou and also with Commits
sioner Garfield, who is personally conduct
ing the investigation for the department.
Mr. Martin recently returned from a trip
to his home state, where he secured add
tonal information that may be of use TO
the department. in the matter, and Mr.. Gar
field only day before yesterday returned to
this city from Chicago, where he had been
diligently at work in the beef market. This
has been the first time since the depart
ment took UP the investigation in earnest
that Mr.. Martin has had a chance to talk
the matter over and gain an idea of the
probable results. In statement made To
Star reporter today he said:
Mr.. Martin Satisfied.
Il am entirely satisfied with the progress
the Department of Commerce and Labor is
making in the investigation that is in prog
ress under the beef trust resolution
When asked whether either Secretary
Cortelyou or Commissioner Garfield had ex-
pressed any opinion to the probable out
come of the investigation or the existence
of trust that would come under the ban
of the present law, Mr.. Martin said 1t was
not the policy of the department nor his
own policy to foreshadow the result, but lie
was certain that the evidence was being
taken well in hand and that the depart
ment would endeavor to draw the correct
conclusions.
II am satisfied that the gentlemen who
are conducting the investigation consider It
very important one,' he asserted.
Continuing, the representative from
South Dakota said:
THE department has a force of men in
the field looking into the condition of the
beef market, both to live cattle and
dressed beef. and, | believe, will make a
thorough investigation of the whole sub
ject. Inquiries will extend over several
months at least. Just how long 1t will last
cannot be said, but ii will extend well into
the summer. When it is complete the Sec
rotary of Commerce and Labor will report
the result to the President, and II will be
reported by him to Congress by the opening
of the next session at the farthest."
Later he said he did not want to indicate
what the department was finding, but he
thought by July something definite might
be said.
Mr.. Martin also expressed In part his
views on the assertion made wednesday in
the Senate by Senator Dolliver that the law
of competition could not be destroyed, and
would always keep the market balance, so
that this country need have no fear of a
trust domination.
competition Will regulate Iofe
than anything else," said Mr.. Martin, but
we cannot always be sure of competition.
Trusts can stamp out competition. and 1t is
the function of the legislative branch OF the
government to see that this is not done,
especially in regard to food products. The
Standard oil trust is a good example of a
combination SO intrenched that ii can sue
cessfully stamp out competition.
us there an actual lack OF competition
today in the beef market? That is what
we have to decide"