The Washington herald., 1907-05-29
WEDNESDAY. MAY %. 1907.
The Uneonseionable Beef Trust.


Evidently the beef trust is not disposed
10 profit by such experiences as that
which followed last years disclosures
concerning the Chicago packing houses
and the subsequent enactment Of the in.
specti0n law by Congress. As a direct
and natural result OF the conditions ex-
listing in some Of the stablishments-and
existing wholly because OF the inordinate
greed OF the owners and their criminal
contempt for the rights of the consuming
publc-American exports Of canned meats
are expected 20 fall 10 S1500000 for the
fiscal year which viii end June 50. as
compared With annual sales Of approx
mately $65C0OQO heretofore. Had the meat
inspection law not been placed on the
statute books Immediately after the reve-
lations concerning the disgraceful state
Of affairs in some Of the best-k known pack
ing houses the sales of American timed
meats abroad this year would have
amounted 20 practically nothing But. as
we have said. even so patent an illustra-
tion Of the status Of public sentiment as
this seems 10 have failed 20 impress the
packers with the necessity of being
square with consumers and others with
whom they deal.
Dispatches from Chicago bring the news
that the packing-houses will no longer
make immediate payment TO producers or
shippers for a class Of its purchases
known as Cow stuff" but will compel
the seller TO wait until after the govern
ment inspectors have conducted post
mOrtem examinations when any loss re-
sulting from condemned carcasses will
be deducted from the amount due. II is
expected that this move. made. it is said.
with a view 10 enforcing a similar rule
with reference 70 all purchases ultimate
", will result i'm shippers Withholding the
usual supply Of live stock from the big
markets. This in turn. will diminish the
stock Of animals available for slaughter
10 such an extent as will be certain to
bring about an advance in prices 20 the
consumer.
Such Consummation viii add the last
straw 70 the burden which the American
householder has been forced TO bear for
years as q result Of the thieving propen-
sites Of the beef packers. The machina-
tons Of their gigantic combination mas
affected the people Of the country more
directly and, perhaps, more iniuriousIv
than the operations Of any Of the inioui-
tous trusts which have grown powerful
and insolent through the workings Of ;na
protective tariff. 1t is asserted that the
government viii withdraw the inspection
service if the packing-houses continue
their unwarranted delay in making paw
ments. but even that. We fear. would not
be punishment fitting the onense and
might not have the desired effect
The plain truth of the matter is that the
beef trust has gone altogether too far in
Us eXactiOns, and that the time has come
for Congress TO take whatever radical
and drastic action is necessary to compel
the uncOnscionable magnates who have
robbed the public so long to cease their
depredations. In the meantime those per
sons if they are as Intelligent IS they
are mercenary, will do well to understand
that there is a limit TO human patience
and liberation. and act accordingly. Only
by being honest and fair i'm the future
can they prevent the breaking OF the
storm which has long been gathering
about their heads, and the sooner they /
realize that this is the case the better
it will be for them