Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-20
Investigation Of the Alleged
Beef Trust.
RESIDENT'S ORDERS
INQUIRY ALSO ORDERED BY RES
oLUTIoN OF CONGRESS.
Special Agents Quietly at Work Gath
ering Data - Not Done for
Political Effect.

While the strike of the employees of the
beef packers goes merrly on and the supply
and price of beef for the immediate future
remains an uncertain quantity, the special
agents of the Department of Justice and
of the Department of Commerce and Labor
are having an excellent opportunity for
gathering information that will be of value
to their superiors when the matter of the
alleged combination of the beef packers
comes up for final settlement.
Coincident with the publication of the
fact that President Roosevelt wanted the
alleged combination of the beef buyers and
packers broken up if it was in any way a
violation of the Sherman antitrust law
there have been published in various anti
administration newspapers throughout the
country statements that the President,
fearing the effect of the nomination of
Judge Parker by the democrats at st. Louis
would be to reduce the chances of the re-
publican party winning at the polls in No
vember and his return to the White House,
had made his attack upon the beef pack
erS at this time for the purpose of playing
politics, and that it his intention to
play with the situation for few months,
or until the Supreme Court of the United
States meets in October, and then with
great show cause the alleged beef trust
case to come before that tribunal and he
settled with a great blowing OF horns ana
shooting of guns.
1t was stated further that this action was
intended political move that to be
kept as a sec.et until the proper time, so
that a decision COULD be obtained at the Oc-
tOber term of the Supreme Court and the
republican campaign orators could go be-
fore the country and say what a great
friend President Roosevelt is to the people;
that he had been able to break up an al
legged combination OF bus ness men who
handled a commodity needed by the rich
and poor alike, and that he had made 1t
CON pulsory on the part of the beef men to
reduce the price of their product so that 1t
would come within the reach of the poorer
classes.
Nothing to Do With Present Strike.
Unfortunately for this position as set
forth by the anti-administration papers the
strike of the beef packers employees had alb
solutely nothing to do with the investigation
that has been carried on by the Department
of Justice and the Department of Com
merce and Labor by direction of the Presi-
dent.
AS long ago as last March President
Roosevelt directed the Attorney General to
make an investigation in a quiet way of
the alleged combination of beef packers,
with view to learning if there COM
bina ton in violation of the Sherman anti
trust law, and Attorney General Kuox i'm
mediately took the matter up and put spe
cial agents to work gathering informa ton
on the subject, with the result that several
suits were brought.
These special agents have been steadily
at work and are still engaged in collecting
data.
In addition to the work being done by
the Department of Justice the President
caused to be introduced and passed in the
last Congress resolution directing the
Secretary of Commerce and La Dor, through
the bureau of corporations, to make COM
plete investigation of the alleged combina-
ton of beef packers, SO that if they were
not really violating the Sherman antitrust
law, but were shaving it pretty close. such
legislation as would regulate the business
and prevent a combination that would by
secret agreement be detrimental to the best
interests of the people generally could be
enacted.
The Congressional Resolution.
The resolution referred to directs that
the Secretary of Commerce and Labor be
requested to investigate the causes of the
low prices of beef cattle in the United
States since July 1. 1903. and the alleged
unusually large margins between the prices
of beef cattle and the selling prices of
fresh beef, and whether the said conditions
have resulted in whole or in part from any
contract, combination. in the form of trust
or otherwise, or conspiracy in restraint of
commerce among the several states and ter
ritories or with foreign countries; also
whether the said prices have been manipu
lated in whole or in part by any corpora
ton, joint stock company or corporate COM
bination engaged in commerce among the
several states or with foreign nations and
If so, to investigate the organization, capt.
talization, profits conduct and mana cement
of the business of such corporations, COM
panfeS and corporate combinations and to
make early report of his findings according
to law.
Upon the receipt of these instructions
from Congress the then Secretary of Com
merce and Labor. George B. Cortelyou.
turned the entire matter over to Commits
sioner of Corporations Garfield, with in
structions to make a full, thorough and
complete investigati ton of the entire matter.
He dill ected that the entire situation be
gone into from the time of the shipment or
cattle by the owners until 1t was bought
by the packers killed. dressed, put up and
sent out on the market finally reaching the
people. In other words. 1t was the desire
of Mr.. Cortelyou to learn the cost Of the
cattle to the producer, the price at which
the cattle was purchased by the packers,
the cost of killing, dressing and preparing
for the market the cost to the wholesale
man, and. finally, what the consumer had
to pay for 1t. In addition 1t was desired to
learn If, as charged, there was combina-
ton of the packers to keep down the price
to be paid the man who raised the cattle,
and whether or not the producer could take
his cattle into the market and by a compe-
ttion of bidders stand better chance of
getting more for his cattle than If a COM
binatiOn existed.
Now Receiving Special Attention.
AS stated exclusively in The Evening Star.
all these matters are now receiving special
attention at the hands of the agents of
the Department of Commerce and Labor
and Of the Department of Justice. 1t is un-
derstood that II In their Investigations the
agents of the Department of Commerce and
Labor find anything illegal it will be i'm
mediately reported to the Attorney General
for use in any litigation he may have on
account of the alleged combination.