The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-17
WEDNESDAY. JULY II. 1907.
THE PACKERS COMBINE.

Recent advices from Chicago and
other important livestock markets in
dictate that the ''beef trust has not
yet been killed by the federal authori.
ties. The combine was attacked in
the federal courts some time ago, the
proceedings developing evidence that
the big packing houses practically
controlled the prices of livestock, but
the defend ants escaped conviction by
pleading immunity from punishment
because they had been compelled by
federal officials to supply some OF the
Information that was used against
them.
Having succeeding in ~evading pun.
ishment for misdeeds of the the past,
the packers combine recently under.
took to exercise still greater control
over the beef market by making new
rules regarding the!purchase OF "cow
stuff They reached an agreement,
of which public announcement al
duly made, that all GOV stuff pur.
chased by members:lof the combine
will be bought subject TO post norton
ex amin alton. The effect of that action
would be that the owners Of the COWS
would not receive the purchase price
until the animalsIhad been slaughtered
and the carcasses inspected by federal
officials and pronounced free from
disease.
The commission men and shippers
united in q most vigorous protest
against this new departure, which
threatened TO disorganize their bust.
ness and cause serious delay and loss.
The dispute has been in progress for
several weeks, during which period
the owners OF COW stuff have held back
their shipments q much as possible.
In opposing this new move on the
part of the combine, the commission
men and shippers take the position
that the acceptance of the post norton
rule to cows, would probably be fol.
lowed by disqualification to other
classes OF livestock. If the combine
has the power to enforce such a regu.
lation upon one kind OF shipment, a
similar unjust and oppressive method
might be applied to all purchases
made by members of the rust.
One Of the dispatches Of the past
week indicated a settlement Of the
controversy by making an announce.
ment to this effect:
Representatives OF livestock ex.
change throughout the, west, in con.
ference with representatives of all the
big packers yesterday, won what they
considered an important victory, do.
ing away substantial ally with the prop.
osition Of the packers that all cattle
be received from shippers subject to
post mortem inspection. This propo.
sition, which has. been fought by ali
the livestock exchanges, will now sp'
ply only to dairy cows and to common
canning COWS.
The packers agreed TO pass al
range cattle. This will mean a large
proportion OF the lreceipss at the biz
stocky ards. The livestock exchange,
represented we're those Of St. Louis
Kansas City, ST. Joseph, Sioux City
Milwaukee, Buff alo and Omaha
1t appears, however, that q defnit,
agreement has not been reached b,
the interests affected, news from Chi
cago being to the effect that the com
mission men and shippers propose te
fight the matter TO q finish. and hav,
served an ultimatum upon the packers
combine.
Montana stockmen are not at pres
ent affected by this controversy, bu
their troubles with the beef trust MAJ
come later. AS possible victims O
greater exactions at the hands OF tn
combine, Montana shippers Will avail
the Outcome Of the preseu, fight wit
considerable interest.