The diamond drill., 1905-03-25
COMMISSIONER oARFIELD's RE
PORT ON BEEF INDUSTRY.


The report OF Commissioner Gar.
field on the beef Industry has at last
been published IL must be some
what OF a surprise to those who have
been indulgiug In wholesale adverse
criticism upon the methods of the
Chicago packers, as II disclOses facts
and figures which clearly show that
the great food producers have been
innocent OF the serious ofenses with
which they have been charged. They
have been for long time accused by
newspapers all over the country OF
extortlonate prices demanded. and OBJ
tanned, OF depression OF values OF cat
tie at the various stockyards where
their business is conducted, of cnor.
nous profits wholly dlsproportionate
TO the capital employed. and, In gen.
eral. OF SO carrying on their business
that the public. under an organized
system OF spolation, were being
robbed for their exclusive benefit.
We find now. however, that not a
single one OF these charges has been
sustained but. on the contrary. that
rigid and searching investigation, Of
ficially made, has resulted in com
pleto acquittal.
AlAnAthA VI NAAhl AAbAA ~ - nAlb II AhAA
no industry can be found where so
narrow margin OF profit prevails
the actual records and original en-
tries, TO which the commissioner had
free access. showing that the high.
est net profit any Ot the packers
made on their sa!cs - beef was two
and three.tenths per cent in 1902 and
In one instance that the profit realized
1NHA "A nm niuhf
cent
The variations In the market prices
FOR cattle are exhaustiyely treated
and no evidence OF any kind was dis
covered. or even hinted at, tending TO
show that values OF cattle are In the
slightest degree improperly affected
or controlled by packers at any OF
the chief centers OF the industry.
On the whole, the report completely
dissipates the prevalent idea that
great fortunes are being amassed by
illegal and improper methods en-
ployed by western packers. showing
tha' Notwithstanding the high prices
for beef prevailing In 1902 the bust
ness was less remuncratiye than In
years characterized by normal values.
both for cattle and product he says
that the year 1902, instead OF being
one OF eXOrbitant profits. as has been
commonly supposed, was less profit.
able than usual In fact. during the
months when the prices OF beef were
the highest. some. az least OF the
leading packers were losing money
on every head OF cattle slaughtered.
II was not possible 10 advance the
prices OF beef In full proportion 20 the
great advance In the prices OF cattle
at that time
After all that has been written re.
fiecting upon the great business In
terest engaged In the marketing and
distribution OF the product OF one OF
the greatest OF our national indus.
tries. II is gratifying TO all fair minded
people that the preludlcod attacks
upon II have failed OF verincation;
and the great western packers may be
congratulated for having passed
through such n searching and thor.
ough official investigation unsmirched.
The results OF this investigation.
based as II ls upon exhaustive data.
officially obtained and verified by
United States government experts,
must be accepted without hesitation.
as the Investigation was made under
circumstances that guaranteed com
plcto accuracy with possible diHpo.
sition indeed. 10 arrive al entirely
different results.