New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-13
FEAR OUR BIG PACKERS
BRITISH MEAT REPORT.
Says Combination of -Four Concerns
May Fir Prices an London.

1ondon Nav 12-The departmental committee ap-
pointed in July of 1903 to inquire into the aHegeu
combinations In the meat trade in the Unlted Mig
dom issued its report this evening
large portion of it is devoted to the American
beef companies and their representatives in. LONDON
The committee concludes that while combination
exists to a certain extent among four American
companies engaged in business in the United King
dom II is not at present sufficiently powerful ser-
ously to endanger the beef trade as whole But
should these firms, seems possible. acquire con-
siderable interest in Argentina the situation win
regard to the meat supply of the United Kingdom
might become serious.
with such command the report says "of prac-
ticalIy the WHOLE imported live cattle and chilled
and frozen beef trade. the firms composing such
combination might be able TO determine beef prices
Smthfcld Market itself and largely affect prices
throughout the country"
According the report. the representatives OF the
American companies in London all told the com
mittee that they knew nothing Of the conditions
prevalent in the United States, and commenting on
these statements the committee says:
The committee reluctantly is compelled To eX-
press grave doubt as the reality Of this uniform
ignorance and it's assumption naturally has tended
TO throw doubt upon the other statements made by
the representatives of these firms II is almost in
credible that Armour &, Co. Swift & Co. Morris
& Co and the Hammond Beef Company. the last
named representing the National Packing Company.
should be in combination in the United States and
in competition in the United Kingdom
In a paragraph relating to the local tendency 10
exaggerate the power ard malevoence Of success
full trade competitors the committee comments
upon the trade methods Of the American COM
panIes'' These are superior to those prevailing
I'm this country" it says. and perhaps less infu-
enced by considerations Of sentiment. As one Wit
ness put it. Business is business all the way and
VIC do not run business for love This maxim is
ruthlessIy applied by the American companies; they
are therefore unpopular among their trade Compel
ttors."
The committee failed to find evidence Of any de-
Iiberate action on the part of the Americans with
the object Of destroying inconvenient rivals, and
it docs not think that they have yet attempted
to capture control the whole beef trade IN tnls
country as alleged
At the same time It is satisfied thai the firms
mentioned consult together with regard to prices
and the of the supplies to be put on the mar
ket, and that they fixed the price at which chilled
beef shall be sold in the provinces. Furthermore.
that provincial statesmen practically bound ts
sell AT the price daily dictated by the Americans
The committee acknowledged that it has received
great assistance from the reports 81 the Senate
committee of 1850 and the report published In 1919
by the American Bureau OF Corporations Long
extracts from this report contained in a white
paper issued Parliament this evening
The report finds that the American companies
have practical monopoly OF cattle steamers from
the United States. and to great extent those
from Canada and that they also own large pro
portion of cattle landed at Deptford Market
from the United States, but that there Is no evil
dence that they have made improper use Of the
market.
It is admitted that Morris & CO. monopolize the
importation Of live cattle at Manchester, with
harmful effect upor the fat and ofaI dealers. but
It IS pointed out that this monopoly " due to the
corporation having granted Morris & Co a three
years lease because they wanted for their
purposes to develop the Manchester Ship Canal
A similar of affairs exists at Birkenhead.