The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-04
SHOOTS OUT BEEF
TRUST FIGURES
Commissioner .Garfieid's Reve-
lations are Not Very
Startling

WASHINGTON, March 3.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt today transmitted to
congress the report of Mr.. Garfield,
commissioner of corporations, upon
the beef industry. The presidents let
ter Of transmittal follows:
transmit herewith a report from
the secretary of commerce and labor
upon that portion of the resolution of
the mouse of representatives adopted
march Z, 1904, having to do with the
prices or cattle and dressed beef, and
the margins between such prices and
the organization, conduct and profits
OF the corporations engaged in the
peer packing industry In view of the
Iact that the department of Justice is
now engaged upon other matters in
vowed in the resolution, the secretary
VI commerce and labor cannot at this
time report thereupon."
me report of the commissioner of
corporations is to the effect that six
Sac.Kths companies, Armour & Co.
81 * Co., Morris. the National
rdGklnS company, the SchwarzchiId &,
SuIzberger company and the Cudabv
tdcklhg company slaughtered in 1909
ABOUT 40 per cent of the total Indicated
slaughter in the United States: that
the average net profit in 1903 for three
OF the companies was 80 cents ner
mead; that the year 1902, instead of be-
prontable than usual; that during the
months when prices of beef were the
highest some at least of the leading
packers were actually losing money ON
every head slaughtered.
The changes in the margin between
prices of cattle and beef are in them
selves no indication whatever of the
Gnahse In profits. says the report
PrlceS and conditions for the Years
1902, 1903 and 1904 are reviewed ana
the conclusions are stated that the six
| companies especially discussed are an
parently not over capitalized. the ner-
centage of profit on the gross volume
oI business is comparatively small.
anu that during the years 1902. 1903
adnu iSO4 Swift & Co.'S profits did not
| exceed per cent of the total sales.
Cudahy & Co.'S is stated at is for
| 1904 and % per cent for 1902
Private Car Lines Pay
With reference to private car lines
IN the packing industry it is stated
| lnat the profit is a very liberal one a
net return of from IA to II per cent
pelng indicated; but it is added that
| recKoned on the basis of dressed beef
transported, the profit would add but
little to the cost of beef to the cor
sumner. The profit of one concern. the
Nuuahy Packing company, on it's in
ee'lilenl IN cars was as high as %
| per cent in one year.
Further, it is stated that the six
principal packing concerns, while they
slaughtered but As per cent of the
cattle killed in 1908. slaughtered near
| ~ 80 per cent of the cattle killed in
| eisnt leading western packing centers;
that they control a very large per-
| centage of the trade in beef, particu-
| larIy IN the east, and they furnish New
YORK about 70 per cent, Boston more
than 80 per cent, Philadelphia about so
| per cent Plttsburg more than 90 and
Baltimore about so per cent.
4he report in conclusion says that
except In the case of the National
mdckIng company, mentioned as one Of
the big Six" there appears to he NO
general ownership of stock among the
six principal companies.