Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-03-15
Big Packers Exonerated by Garfield.

The report Of Commissioner Garfield
on the methods under which the business
OF the so-called beef trust IS conducted
has been published and a closely printed
book OF over 300 pages is the result of the
examination to which that industry has
been subjected. The report is very full
and complete, every phase of the business
having been investigated with the utmost
care and thoroughness, jas is shown by
exhaustive tables of figures, with authen.
tIcated facts and statistical data covering
almost every detail of the business
After a careful reading of this report
1t IS impossible to arrive at any other con-
clusion than that for some time past
there has been a great deal said and writ
ten about this great industry that has
had no foundation in fact. 1t would APP
pear that a popular clamor has resulted
from newspaper comment and the pas
sage OF many resolutions by those who,
as plainly shown by the report, were with
out any definite information. This re-
port, the result of an inquiry in compli-
ance with congressional demand upon
the secretary of commerce and labor is
so complete and detailed that, as a whole,
it will not of course be read by the pub
lie at large, but the facts and figures,
authenticated by government expert ex.
am1ners, which it contains, show with
indisputable certainty that the hue and
cry raised during the past year against
the packers has been at least unreason.
nDlt Vi IL, lHueeu, mas Deeu
hystericai.
These officially ascertaned facts are
surprise to very many who have been i'm
pressed by the denuncatory language
they have read and heard for some time
past, for they now find that, instead Of
the great profits said to be made by
western packers, the business is being
conducted upon smaller margin OF
profit than that prevailing in any other
industry. Commissioner Garfield himself
says: The year 1902, instead of being
one of exorbitant profits, as has been
than usual" and this will be remembered
as the year when the highest prices ruled
and the packers were being everywhere
accused Of extOrtIonate methods. Regard.
ing this very year when the complaints
OF injustice were the loudest and the
most unanimous, the commissioner says:
I'm fact during the months when the
prices OF beef were the highest some ut
least, OF the leading packers were actual
iy losing money on every head Of cattle
slaughtered for the reason, he con-
tinues, ut was not possible to advance
the prices of beef in full proportion to
the great advance in the prices of cattle
at that time"
The report also shows that the public
belief that enormous profits are usually
Characteristic of the beef business is en-.
tlrely erroneous. as u proves. after full
investigation, that the maximum net re-
turn on the several investments was two
and three.tenths per cent. and ,he mini.
mum one and eight-tenths per cent
The report ~ much too detailed and
extensive to attempt any thorough review.
but Il clearly demonstrates that there
has been great deal Of unnecessary
al3rn on the port of the public a. to ~ q
meat situation and good deal Of loose
dcnuncation Of packers about whose
methods and business there has been lit
lie or no real Information The conclsi.
sinns of Commissioner Garfield are M
thc more valuable as the invc4tignfi IN
wis by no means commenced in auytninz
like friendly OF partial spirit and hat
IL has been lull and complete % shown
when he says. "All the statistics taken
from the books Of the companies we're
checked in he most thorough manner.
Totals : lccted at random were verified
by the items Many typical bdn.hes T.
caitle have been traced from the time Of
purchase e. the time Of sale as dressed
beef. thus obtaining accurate informa-
ticn from original records of costs Of
sctual selling prices ana Of ut mate
profits In miny cases the statements Of
cattle purchssoi by the companies were
compared with accounts Of the cCmmis-
sion hoIiNes through whom the cattle
were sold The various checks shrs cin-
ployei insure ne sbsOlute accuracy u he
bgIrrs"