The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-31
PROBE
OF Packing Industries
May Bare Vast
Monopoly
CHARGES PILlNG UP

Chicago, Dec. 27-The conspicuous
developments of the governments
beef trust investigation up to tonight
are the governments surveillance of
certain officials of the packing
houses, the reported offer of immu-
nifty to any corporation and indivi-
duals who may become states evil
dence, and the broadening of the in
quiry into a hope that embraces re-
batting, violations of trust laws, mon
opoly of the beef supply, the alleged
Illegal holding of millions of acres of
range land and the evident determi-
nation of the government to loosen
the hold of the owners of packing
plants, cold storage houses and re-
frigerator cars upon the notions food
supply.
Government operatives are author
ity for the statement that by four
agencies, the packers practically have
the meat product of the country
within their control and that they
have. almost as great control over
perishable fruits.
BY clearing house" all prices
are said to be regulated. The depart
ment of Justice is0 investigating the
report that every day in violation of
the federal courts and interstate
commerce laws representatives of the
packers get together every afternoon
in a saloon and discuss prices in
non-committal way until the con-
censs of opinion is learned. One
man judges this. When he is salts
fed as to the minds of the others he
announces he is ready to return to
the yards. He proceeds directly to
the offices OF brokerage firm, where
he makes bids. An understanding as
to how these bids shall alter quota
tions makes it easy to interpret
exact prices. The plan is said to
have worked perfectly since 1906.
Rebating is believed to have exist
ed in new and exclusive forms. Great
sums allowed packers annually for
'Iosses" through wrecks, delayed
transmission, truck demurrage, over
charges and car rentals" are thoght
to be disguised rebates. Weapons
against competitors are said to be
be refusals to supply cars on the
ground of inability, actual delays in
transmission and extortionate pre-
shipment charges for icing" cars.
Instances of railroads permitting live
stock to remain in pens awaiting
shipment until the cost of feeding
has made 1t impossible for owners to
sell at a profit are reported.
Fruit raisers in California and the
southern states are said to have been
refused cars until in many cases they
paid pre-ioing charges as high as $115
a car. Millions of acres of cattle
lands In Texas, the Dakotas and other
western states are said to be held in
the names of individual names of the
packing corporations. The holdings
of Nelson Morris & Co. were re-
vealed by the death of Mr.. Morris,
who is reported to have bequeathed
15,000,000 acres to his heirs Owner.
ship of immense tracts by other
packers was disclosed accidentally by
recent investigations of land frauds
involving western senators.
The most effective means to the
practical monopoly of the food supply
is said to be cold storage houses. |
During the late butter famine, that
sent prices up to 40 cents a pound, !
2O,0OO,O0O pounds were in storage.
Another interesting feature devel- |
Oped is that when meats are held by
the packers at extortionate prices be.
cause of scarcity" Mexican, Can
adian and Argentine cattle raisers
have tried in vain to get stock into |
the country, but were prevented by
the tariff