Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-09

The investigation of the beef trust hu;
pie inasmuch as it has concerned one of
the necessares of life and the results of
this inquiry will therefore be of particular
interest. Commissioner Garfield Of the
bureau of corporations who has had this
work under supervision. has completed
his report. and it is understood that it
ly The report demonstrates beyond the
possibility of a doubt that the meat pack
ers have been engaged in efforts to pull
down the prices of live stock and in try
ing to push up the prices of meat prod
ucts. and with this end in view they have
maintained practical monopoly. The
plishing this end are fully exhibited. and
this feature of the report is certain to
make very interesting reading.
1t will be recalled that previous to the
beginning Of the investigation tho charge
was made that the beef trust had been
guilty of forcing certain railroads to grant
it rebates OH shipments Of meat products
in spite of the fact that it was thus die
tating to some of tho most powerful
financial interests in the country, and that
this was one of the most effective weap-
ons used in crushing out rivalry. The
report of Commissioner Garfield shows
that rebates were paid to packers by
many railroads, hut all these payments
were made prior to the granting of the
injunction against the beef barons
! If advices from Washington are correct
one Of the chief offenders against the
people in connection with the establishing
of beef monopoly will escape under the
present inquiry concerning the violation of
the injunction. 1t is stated that ], Og.
den Armour called in the heads of de-
partments in his business when the in
junction was issued and told them the
law must be respected. He is said ia
have impressed it upon his employees that
he was in earnest. and that even il the
firm lost money through failure to meet
the practices of their competitors. he
would not submit to a continuation of the
old methods.
| II TINS statement is correct. it serves
to show that an injunction has been suf.
hcleht 10 bring one of the firms employ
ing thirty thousand men 10 terms, and if
TINS much has been accomplished during
the short period which has elapsed since
the injunction was granted. it is safe ia
say that the administration and Con.
gress ought to be able to discover some
means of making this benefit permanent
When combination of capitalists nut,
Itself IN position to raise the prices OF
all sorts of meat products and eggs. II
strikes at practically every home in this
broad land and it is encouraging to know
that the people will not be forced to re.
main helpless in the power of the becl
barons.
In this connection it is interesting tt
note that the method by which the twin,
trust has been fought in Il number o.
States may be utilized in reaching tn,
packers trust. a bill has been prcscntc,
In the lower branch of the Illinois Lcgls
latnre providing for the appropriation o
no less than 100000 for the erection an,
maintenance of State packing houses il
connection with the pcnitcntiarles at Jolie
and Chester. II this policy Is adopted il
other States in which the trust has pack
ing houses, the people will not be com
PEELED to rely upon the federal govern
mcnt alone for relief from the exaction
OF this grinding monopoly.