New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1910-12-10
MEAT PRICES SLIGHT
TUMBLE.

For the first time since ITS ere
alton the Beef Trust, when the
election returns were flashed on
the bulletin boards, showed II
pancy cond ton. We had never
observed trust lose It's nerve
before. The spectacle was both
exciting and gratifying.
The reduction III meat prices
followed so quickly the result OF
the election as to have been almost
u part Of it. This Beef Trust OF
onrs is no chicken-hearted affair,
so that in locating the cause Tor
IT'S loss Of confidence, it is better
to seek in u pocket-book dlrec-
ton.
The day when supply and de-
mand would operate to increase OF
decrease prices has past, especial
" is that condition true TO the
beef trade where the supply III
the United States lis controlled
completely by the Packers Asso-
citation, while the foreign supply
is held in check by a prohlbitlvc |
tariff Meat prices now are made
by legislation.
The packers, undoubtedly, saw
in the returns on November Sth,
that the people had voted strong |
ly against the present high-priccs,
and that the election would be fol
lowed by movement looking to
nhe reduction Of the tariff on
meat supplies. Probably as
precautionary on preventative
measure the Trust started re-
duction in the prices of meat.
Mr.. Armour stated that the
large corn crop was the sole cause
of the reduction.
In April last the Senate's food
investigating committee, OF which
Senator lodge was chairman, re-
ported to the Senate the causes
for the increased price in meats
and other food supplies. THE ,
tariff" said Mr.. Lodge, "has
been no material factor. Among :
the more important causes was
the following:
Increased banking facilities in
agricultural localities. which en-
able farmers to hold their crops :
and market them to the best ad-
vantage"
Mr.. Armour's bumper corn crop
appears to have swamped Mr.. '
Lodges increased banking facili- !,
ties as an explainer. "
But we have another explana-
ton. 1t will be recalled that the =
American Beef Trust sought to a
obtain a monopoly in London 81 U
milar to what it has in this coun-
try and is fast acquiring in Ca u
NADIA. James Martin Miller, o
former United States consul gen q,
cial. who has been collecting data .,
on the cost OF living abroad. says: o.
"In London the price of beef h.
IL about 25 per cent. lower than 10
in this county. This can be best h,
accounted Tor by the fact that i'll 4,
London there exists the keenest i
between the packers \,
II several countries, and also Il 4
here is no tariff on imported :
lress beef, both of which tend =
o make the price OF beef mod
rate. /"
The American packer is scl,ing
lis meat abroad at % per cent.
css than the American consumer
! forced to pay at home, so that,
at least. of the price in
his country ought to come off.
nd would come off if the tariff
n meat were to be wiped out. Per-
APPS the packer sees in the result
I the last election. the disappear
nee of that additional % per
ent. profit, and is now seeking
, soften the anger Of the people
Y showing that the price can
onne down without any change in
,e tariff schedule.
The packers have claimed that
lie cattle raisers secure great
eal of the benefit of the high pri-
- Of meat. The poor packers
hey get the blame and the far
ers get the benefit. Still, in a
'cent report issued by Secretary
filson, who is not hlifrieIdls tn
le packers. he states that the
fferences between the wholesale
ice of bcef and the price paid
, the consumer Is IS par sAsat
he says:
Much more prodpctive Of e
ess eustAE' fstSil dixtrimlti ion OF
cot i Alie Eyenions ltf tht III.
il bdAifess. The multiplication,
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