The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-09-20
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20, 1905.
PROSECUTING THE PACKERS.


the eve of their trial on a charge {
conspiracy, the packers should rails
the price Of meat, and in the face Q
the fact that cattle are selling ia tn
large market centers at several dol
lars per head less than the prices pal,
a month ago. That is the information
made public in a dispatch from Kan
sas City. which says the wholesal
prices of all grades of pork and bee
are from one-half to 24cents per pound
higher than they were a few days ago
although the price of livestock on the
hoof has declined.
The retail butchers have ad vanceG
their prices to corresponding figures,
and the consumber foots the bill. The
Kansas City dispatch says:
This is the season of the year for
pork and beef prices to decline. In.
stead, prices are climbing higher each
week, and the butchers say there is
nothing to do but to submit. because
the big packers have everything their
" way. The packers deny there i,
a secret understanding about prices,
but all packers give out the same
prices every morning. IL a butcher
complains that the prices of the Ar.
mour packing company are too high,
and, in an effort to find cheaper
prices goes to Fowler's, Cudahy's,
Swift's. Morris Or any of the large
packers, he will be met with the same
quotation"
The complaint made by these retail
butchers forms one of the charges
made against the big packers. l, is
alleged that they control the meat
trade in many OF the large cities, and
have a secret agreement regarding
prices which eliminates competition.
This. in the eyes Of the law, is con.
spiracy. and those who are believed
to be parties to such agreements have
been indicted by a federal grand jury
and will stand trial in the courts.
The packers, it is alleged, are work.
ing both ends of the meat business.
1t IS charged that they have not only
entered into a conspiracy to advance
the price OF dressed beef and other
meats, but that they have combined to
depress the price of livestock from
which the meat product is supplied.
1t is the experience of many Montana
stockmen that conditions at the large
market centers tend to sustain this &C.
cusation.
Cattle prices in the Chicago market,
Tor instance, 60 up and down in q
most peculiar manner-the difference
In quotations from day to day some.
times making it q question of profit or
loss to the shipper. There IL q suspi.
cion prevalent among stockmen that
such fluctuations are not due to legi.
innate business conditions, but that
the packers, being able to control the
market. pay only such prices as will
shipments sufficient for their
needs. 1t is alleged that the refusal
Of a bid made by one packer is often
followed by u boycott Of that ship.
by agents OF all the other pack.
ers who are believed to be in the com.
bine, and the shipper is practically
compelled TO accept the price that is
offered.
Montana st0ckmen who have had
such an experience are justified in
their conclusion that the packers have
cOnspired to secure cattle at their own
figures. They are almost prepared to
believe the newspaper allegation that
Of the combine meet every
day and agree upon the prices that
shall be paid for beef cattle of the va.
rious grades. There may be some
question as to the truth of this charge,
but there 10 certainly a great deal of
circumstantial evidence to support it.
The prosecution Of the packers by
the federal authorities promises to be
a stubborn legal contest, the defend.
ants having employed the most clever
and astute attorneys that money can
hire to conduct their side of the case.
They will take advantage of every
technicality permitted by the courts,
the proceedings will be delayed as
much as possible, and every effort will
be made to defeat the purpose of the
prosecution. 1t is hoped, however.
that IT a conspiracy exists between the
packing interests for the purpose OF
cheating the producer out of his legi.
innate profits and compelling the con.
sumner to pay exorbitant prices for his
meat products, the fact will be proved
In court and proper punishment be
administered to the Offenders.