The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-04-06
GarfeId's Report on Beef Industry
Favors Packers.

GsrfeId's Report on Beef Industr
Fayors Packers.
The Garfield report on the organiza
tion. conduct and profits Of the corpo
rstions engaged in the beef packing
Industry has been submitted 10 Presi
dent Roosevelt and by him transmitted
70 Congress. The conclusions arrived
At by the commissioner after. perhaps
the most drastic investigation OF bnsi
ness methods ever known. were who'll,
unexpected; At least by those who fol
some time past have been INDUCING IL
unfriendly criticism upon the busines,
conducted by the great western pack
ers.
This report iDdisputsbly demon,
strafes that the charges Of combination
market control. extortion and other,
along these lines have besn either the
result Of misinformstion OF actual tx.
DorsDce Of existing conditions or OF
deliberate misrepresentation in aid OF
sensational journalism.
The investigation was set on foot by
Congress. conducted by the Department
Of Commerce and Labor and was
especially in charge Of the commits
sioner. James K. Garfield. IL has been
carried on for nearly year. and dur
ing a period when the popular mind
was inimicsi 20 corporate interests
Its subject. too. being one Of vital in
terest TO the public. as il involves a
necessary food podnct. there was every
motive on the part Of the government
officials Of n most thorough and search
ing investigation. The reprot itself
bears ample testimony that the experts
employed by the government have gone
10 the very bottom in their efforts TO
get AT the actual facts of the situation.
There is too much of il in book Of
about 500 pages for anything like a
detailed revision, but IL may be said
that il shows clearly and conclusively
that the severe criticism upon the
methods Of the packers has been IN
reasonable aud without foundation
The report shows that the most OF
the recent complaint has been popular
clsmor IL not delusion based upon in
adequate information IL would sppesr
that some such official information was
necessary 10 clear the atmosphere. for
now IL would seem 10 be almost impos-
sible 20 continue charges that have
been so completely refut-d-
To summarize briefly this report, il
is shown that. instead OF the practice
Of extortion and the smassing Of enor-
nous fortunes by illegal methods. the
packers are engaged in business really
less profitable than any other large in
dustry requiring similar large invest
menr The commissioner shows that
in the year 1909 when prices were
highest the business WAS less profitsbl
than usual and that some of the lead
ing packers were actually losing money
On every head of cattle slaughtered.
control OF cattle prices at
he different stock yards Of the country.
Iheie is not the slightest hint that any
has existed
The commissioner specifically finds,
sfter the closest examination Of all
looks and papers by government ex-
oerts. that there is no over-cspifsliza-
ion Of the several great firms and cor
,orstions engaged in the beef industry.
md Ms 10 actual net profits, be calls
attention 10 the fact that from July !,
I9o3, 10 July /. 1904. these were
hown TO be by two Of the principal
sscertained from their 4
,ooks. only 50 cents per head Of cattle
lsnghtered OF 1875 cents per hundred |
weight Of dressed beef or less than one
ighth OF cent per pound.
The more this report is examined by
hose whose desire is ITO get even with !
he packers" the less reason will be
oupd to exist for popular discomfort
AS this official investigation disclose<
10 departure whatever, on the part of |
western packers. from clear. straight
Onward method Of doing business and
. the commissioner vouches for the
ccurscy Of the facts and figures from
which he draws his conclusions. there
5 every reason for its full and COM
lete acceptance
That the report can only dissppoint
hose who expected the disclosure OF
irregularity and violation
business ethics is all the more reason
Thy the fair and conservative public
hould congratulate itself and the
sckers thst7ho irregularity or illegal
y in the conduct Of the business has
cen discovered