Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-18
BEEF TRUST INQUIRY
Officials Refuse to Disclose
Their Intentions.
INSPECTORS AT WORK
RESULT OF INVESTIGATIONS NOT
TO BE GIVEN OUT.
Report of an Effort to Advance Case
Before the Supreme Court-At-
torney General Silent.
INSPECTORS AT WORK

Ever since the strike or the employees IN
the various beef packing establishments
throughout the country was inaugurated
last week stories have been appearing in
different sections of the country, apparent
ly for political effect, that the strike Is
purely the outcome of a desire of the
trust people to take a dig at President
Roosevelt on account of alleged order
by the President to Attorney General
Moody to have the case Of the United
States against the beef trust moved up
on the calendar of the Supreme Court of
the United States. so that trial and settle
ment may be had before the November
elections. New York newspaper of this
morning printed the following direct state
ment:
For political effect President Roosevelt
has ordered the Department of Justice.
through Attorney General Moody to ad-
vance the beef trust case on the calendar
of the United States Supreme Court in or
der that it may be tried early in the Octo-
Der term"
officials Refuse to Talk
This paragraph was shown to Attorney
General Moody today by reporter for the
Evening Star. The Attorney General read
it carefully and thoughtfully. When asked
by The Star reporter for a statement in
contradiction or in confirmation Of the
direct statement made, Mr.. Moody replied
that he had nothing whatever to say in re-
gard to the matter.
Victor II. Metcalf, the Secretary of Com
merce and Labor, was shown the same
paragraph, and he also declined to make
any statement in regard to the matter,
adding that the case was one entirely in the
hands of the Department of Justice, and in
addition the fact that his short term in the
office of the Secretary of Commerce and
Labor had been so much taken up with
familiarlZlng himself with the working OF
the office and in keeping up with the cur
rent work that he had not really had time
to devote much thought to the investigation
of the beef trust.
1t is known that the so-called beef trust
is under investigation by the Department
of Commerce and Labor and the Depart
ment of Justice, and 1t also known that a
suit entered by the Attorney General of the
United States is pending in the Supreme
Court of the United States against the same
so-called beef trust
A number of inspectors of the Department
of Commerce and Labor are at work gath
ering evidence for the report on the So
called beef trust which was ordered by
the last Congress to be made on the subject
The result of such work the inspectors
have done has not been made public in any
form and will not be until the proper time
1t is held that it would be highly improper
to give out any information that might be
needed by the Department of Justice when
legged beef trust comes up for final hearing
and that 1t would be equally improper to
give out any information which is being
gathered for a report ordered by Congress
until that report is submitted to Congress.
The Alleged Beef Trust.
That there Is combination of beef pack
ers appears to many to be probable;
whether not this combination is illegal
remains for the Supreme Court of the
Urited States to decide When this case
will come before the Supreme Court no one
in authority will say.
What is called the beef trust is said to
have been conceived by George F. Swift,
but ii was not completed until after mis-
death. when AN of the Independent packing
houses. including Ruddy Brothers. Fowler
Brothers. Lfpton's. the German-American,
National Packing Company. with J. P. Ly
man as president. This company. it is
claimed, fixes the prices, both for the cat
tie. sheep and hogs on foot and after they
have been killed and made ready for the
market.
1t Is claimed that the National Packing
Company officials are notified by railroad
officials every night just what cattle may
be expected to arrive the next morning at
the principal packing house centers, and
the dealer having the largest orders for
prime beef fixes the price that is to be paid
for the prime beef cattle, and sends his
salesman to do the buying at the figure
agreed upon. 1t is claimed that under the
agreement no one bids against him and the
beef Is purchased. If the seller raises any
objection to accepting the price offered
none of the other dealers, 1t Is said, will
make another bid, and the seller has to
come around in order to get rid Of his cat
tie. Another feature of the so-called trust
Is an alleged agreement by the dealer pur-
chasing the beef to allow his fellow dealers
to purchase from him at his figure all the
beef they need to fill orders. In this way,
It Is claimed, all the cattle are divided
among the parties to the agreement in ac-
cordance with their needs.