The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-31
Kansas Senator Analyses
Causes of High Cost
of Living.
CLAIMS PACKERS
SHARE WITH ROADS
Progressive Republican Absolves
Farmer and Retailer From
Attempted Robbery.
Bv I. c. wELLIvER.

In the line Of the purpose Of the Re
publican progressives in Congress 20
force national attention to the increased
cost of living, Senator Bristow Of Kan
sas. another OF the men who voted
AGAINST the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill,
today made declaration Of his opinions
On this subject,
The increased cost OF living cannot
be attributed to any cause; or, rather,
II IS due to a combination Of hundred
causes" he said. The chief is the tend
ency 20 combinations Of men who con-
troll commodities and fix arbitrary prices
on them"
.sDo Won mean combinations at the
top. among the original producers. or AT
the bottom, among the deaiers?' was
asked
THAT depends on the commodity re-
,lIed Senator Bristow. The excessive
cost of meat is due to the packers com
bine. and its close relation to the trans
portation companies. The price Of meat
Is largely determined by the combina-
ton OF the packers and the railroads
u ct me illustrate.
" Recently at Coodland, Kan, 400 miles
northwest CT Kansas City, 1 asked
retail meat dealer where he got his
meats. He said II came. dressed, from
Kansas City packers.
History Of Meat.
NOW let me explain the history of
that meat he was selling. 1t was
raised out in western Kansas. Later. it
was shipped fro mthe grass country to
central or eastern Kansas, to be fed
and finished on corn. Then the finished
animals were shipped to Kansas City
bought butchered. dressed-and the car
cases shipped back TO nay friend at
Coodland to he retailed. or, 1t may be
that the animal was raised out in the
range country: shipped to Kansas CITY
as a feeder; bought there by farmer
who had the corn and wanted TO finish
bunch of cattle on e; shipped back TO
that mans place In the corn belt' teo
and shipped again 10 Kansas City;
slaughtered, and the meat once more
shipped westward TO the place Of sale.
That makes four trips BY rall. two
eastward and two westward. Two COM
missions to be paid on transactions at
The Kansas City stock yards: proht 10
go in for each transaction. To me orig
anal cost must be added all that freignl.
II an must be added in making up the
price the retail butcher charges
I'm the old days when me locai
butcher killed his own beef, / lived for
a time at Lawrence, Kan. The Armours
sent agents up there TO establish sale
Tor their dressed meats. With their
great financial power. they were able
10 undersell and crush out the 1nce-
pendent local butchers
Division of Profits.
THAT has gone on until the meat is
generally handled in this way; the
packers monopolize the business, the
! railroads get their share out OF the
huge amount Of transportation that Is
involved, and the result IS the ex-
travagant prices we are now paying.
4 is not true that the raiser Of the
meat. by reason OF the fact that he is
getting a higher price for live stock, is
responsible for the extreme prices to
the consumer. I am in no sympathy
with the notion that the retailer is
robber. He must stand the wastes and
the losses, must deliver his goods, and
meet the requirements Of the trade.
THAT Is an outline Of conditions az
fecting meat prices. Now II you VIII
turn 10 butter. eggs, poultry, and the
like, you viii find similar methods and
saries are gathered I'D and kept in
ne best possible market It is true
taken IN this business. But I'm a hard
raises the price and makes a fine profit
from them The Capitalization and
monopoly OF this businegs is in prog