Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-03-25
oarfisld's Report on Beef Industry
Favors Packers


The Garfield report on the organiza-
ton. conduct and profits of the corpo-
rations engaged in the beef packing
industry has been submitted to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and by him transmitted
to Congress. The conclusions arrived
at by the commissioner after, perhaps,
the most drastic investigation of bust
ness. methods ever known, were wholly
unexpected; at least by those who for
some time past have been indulging in
unfriendly criticism upon the business
conducted by the great western pack
ers.
This report indisputably demon
strates that the charges of combination,
market control, extortion and others
along these lines have been either the
result of misinformation or actual ig-
norance of existing conditions OF Of
deliberate Misrepresentation in aid Of
sensational journalism.
The investigation was set oil foot by
Congress, conducted by the Department
of Commerce and Labor and was
especially in charge of the commits
sioner, James r. Garfield. II has been
carried on for nearly year, and dur
ing a period when the popular mind
was inimicai TO corporate interests.
Its subject, too, being one of vital in
terest to the public, as it involves q
necessary food product, there was every
motive ON the part of the government
officials of a most thorough and search
ing investigation. The report itsel
bears ample testimony that the experts
employed by the government have gon,
to the very bottom in their efforts {,
get at the actual facts of the situation
There is too much of it in book o.
about 800 pages for anything like
detailed revision, but it may be sait
that it shows clearly and conclusivel,
that the severe criticism upon tn
methods of the packers has been un
reasonable and without foundation.
The report shows that the most o
the recent complaint has been popula
clamor if not delusion based upon in
adequate information. 1t would appea
that some such official information wa
necessary to clear the atmosphere, TO
now it would seem to be almost impos
sible TO continue charges that hav
been so completely refuted.
To summarize briefly this report,
is shown that, instead of the practic
of extortion and the amassing of enoi
nous fortunes by illegal methods. tn
packers are engaged in business reall
p less profitable than any other large il
dustry requiring similar large inves
+ ment. The commissioner shows this
in the year 1902 when prices wei
s. highest the business was less profitab
IS than usual and that some of the lea,
IS ing packers were actually losing none
e on every head of cattle slaughtere,
ID Regarding control of cattle prices
" the different stock yards of the countr.
there is not the slightest hint that al
irregularity has existed.
The commissioner specifically find
after the closest examination of q
books and papers by government 9
, perts. that there is no -capitaliz
ton of the several great firms and CO
porations engaged in the beef industr
q and as to actual net profits, he ca
attention to the fact that from July
1908, TO July /, 1904, these we
shown to be by two of the prinicI
- companies, as ascertained from thu
-, - books, only 80 cents per head of cat
~ slaughtered or 49, 3 cents per hundi
20 weight of dressed beef or less than OF
NU eighth of a cent per pound.
The more this report is examined
those whose desire is ''to get even w
the packers the less reason will
found to exist for popular discomfort
AS this official investigation disclo
J, no departure whatever, on the part
-. western packers, from a clear, straig
~ forward method of doing business 9
as the commissioner vouches for
accuracy of the facts and figures Fl
ted which he draws his conclusions, tn
on. is every reason for its full and CT
lin plete acceptance.
,or That the report can only disappC
md those who expected the disclosure
49,. commercial irregularity and violat
of business ethics is all the more rea
why the fair and conservative pul
should congratulate itself and
packers that no irregularity or illeI
ity in the conduct of the business
been discovered.