The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1908-01-03
Governor Haskell has had called TO

governor HaSkell mas had called to
his attention what he designated as
the difference in price between beef
In the hide and beef i'm the skillet"
that has been taken as tribute from
consumers of meat-and that means
everybody-in Oklahoma for the last
i've or six years. Governor Haskell
may decide to make the matter a sub
ject of official inquiry. 1t is asserted
that meat trust controlled by the
big packing houses in outside states,
Is no less reality in Oklahoma than
the coal trust, and the oil trust, etc,
and that the retail price of meats is
fixed arbitrarily, regardless of the
price OF beef on the hoof The fluc-
tuations OF the live stock markets
make little impression upon retail
markets, the latter varying almost
imperceptibly In the course Of year.
1t has been claimed for long time
by Oklahoma butchers that they dare
not cut the price of meat below what
Is charged by their competitors as
they would be driven out of business
by reduction forced by packers to
less than the cost of meat on the
hoof. Furthermore, butchers complain
thoI thC piollto 81 W Tic DdChtTS,
rather than to themselves The pro-
ducers OF live sock do not participate
In the earnings OF the alleged trust.
The question Is one that would at
tract great deal of attention to an
official inquiry by the state, as the
monthly meat bill is one Of the bur-
dens of family in these days Of high
prices. The Oklahoma constitution is
unfriendly to trusts, and Governor
Haskell is one of the foremost cham
pions of the constitution. An in
quiry might at least establish the
cause OF the high price of meats, a
bit Of information that every meat
buyer would paste in his hat.
A man having practical experience
daily i'm the coal mines OF Indian Ter
ritory said that the cost per ton to
mine operators to put coal on board
cars was not more than $l.10. When
asked If mining In the older portions
Of the Indian Territory field was
growing more difficult and thereby
more expensive, ne said that the in
creased cost was not sufficient actual
ly to make any great difference in the
price. In Oklahoma McAlester coal
costs SIS ton at retail, or $500
ton more than the cost of producing
the coal. When asked who enjoyed
the enormous profits that were plainly
visible this man smiled and said that
the state corporation commission could
crack the nut Domestic consumers
in the McAlester field pay s. a ton
for this same quality ot coal, notwith-
standing the fact that the same Goa,
is delivered in Kansas City wholesale
at 81 80 a ton. This same man said
that despite contrary statements, he
believed the coal resources of the state
had been barely touched and that
when the coal region was developed
Oklahoma would be one OF the top
notch coal producing states OF the
union.
Already the introduction of bill
in congress by United States Sen ltor
Thomas p. Gore, for two more con-
gressnsen in Oklahoma, is bringing
out aspirants for the places. 1t is as
sumed that until proper census is
taken, the two congressman would be
elected at large, If the bill should be-
come law, making a total OF seven
members OF congress for the state.
Certain members OF the state senate,
knowing the support rendered Sena-
tor Gore by Representative X. A. Bill
ups OF Cordell, are booming Billups
for one OF the places, while for the
same reason members OF the house are
boosting Representative A. s. Riddle
OF Chickasha. Friends Of Billups who
are planning for ais political happi
ness gave him systematic ovation
at the Bryan banquet at Guthrie, and
with such yigor that the youngest
member of the democratic national
committee blushed with pride.
Sanatnr Hanrv - Inhn Snn nraSidnnt