The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-03-17
COMMISSIONER GARFIELps RE.
PORT ON BEEF INDUSTRY.

The report Of Commissioner Gar
held on the beef industry has at last
been published. 1t must be some
what OF a surprise to those who have
been indulging in wholesale adverse
criticism upon the methods of The
Chicago packers, as it discloses facts
and figures which clearly show that
the great food producers have been
innocent of the serious ofenses with
winch they have been charged. They
have been for long time accused By
newspapers all over the country d
extortlonate prices demanded, and Oh
tanned, OF depression of values Of cat
Tie at the various stockyards where
their business is conducted, of enor
nous profits wholly disproportionate
to the capital employed, and In gen.
eral, OF SO carrying on their business
that the public, under an organized
system of spoliation, were being
ROBBED for their exclusive benefit.
We find now, however, that not q
single one of these charges has been
sustained but, on the contrary, that
rigid and searching investigation, Of
nclally made, has resulted in com.
plete acquittal.
instead of extortion it is shown that
no Industry can be found where 50
narrow margin of profit prevails
the actual records and original en-.
tries, to which the commissioner had
Tree access, showing that the high
est net profit any of the packers
made on their sales of beef was two
ana three-tenths per cent in 1902 and
IN one instance that the profit realized
IN l9O4 was one and eight-tenths Per /
cent.
The variations in the market prices
1or cattle are exclusively treated
and no evidence Of any kind was dis.
covered, or even limited at, tending TO
snow that values of cattle are in the
slightest degree improperly affected
or controlled by packers at any Of
tne chief centers Of the industry.
On the whole, the report completely
the prevalent idea that
great fortunes are being amassed by
illegal and improper methods en-
ployed by western packers, showing
mat Notwithstanding the high prices
Tor beef prevailing in 1902 the bust
ness was less remunerative than ID
years characterized by normal values,
both for cattle and product. He says
that the year 1902, instead OF being
'ne OF exorbitant profits, as has been
commonly supposed, was less profit
IDLE than usual. In fact, during the
months when the prices of beef were
he highest, some, at least, OF the
eading packers were losing money
N every head Of cattle slaughtered.
t was not possible to advance the
'rices of beef in full proportion to the
'reat advance In the prices OF cattls
t that time"
After all that has been written re-
Letting upon the great business 10.
crest engaged in the marketing and
lstributton of the proddct OF one OF
he greatest Of our natioDal indus
rles, 1t is gratifying to all fair MINDED
eople that the prejudiced attacks
pom 1t have failed of verifcation,
nd the great western packers may Dc
congratulated for having passed
trough such a searching and thor
Ugh official investigation unsmirched.
he results of this investigation, /
ased as it is upon exhaustive data,
flcially obtained and verified py
nited States government experts, q
uSt be accepted without hesitation
the investigation was made under 1
that guaranteed COM
etc accuracy with a possible dlspo
ton indeed, to arrive at entlreT 4
fferent results.