The Detroit times., 1910-01-11
bLAMES RAILROADS
AND BEEF TRUST
Senator Bristow, of Kansas, Shows
How Cost of Living Has Been
Sent Skyward.

Z WASHINGTON ID. c.. Jan. r).-
Senator Bristow of Kansas, who Is one
of the most aggressive of the pro.
gressive OF the progressive Republic
cans Of the senate. sheds new light
on the high cost OF living.
Senator Bristow, says that IL IL the
combinations between the railroads
and the beef trusts which run the
prices OF good juicy beef steaks up to
30 or SO cents per pound and roll up
the immoral profits OF the Armour
beef combination TO 35 per cent dur
ing the last year on some $20,000,oOO
OF watered stock.
Take beef raised in western Kan
sas." said Bristow. 1T is shipped from
the grass country TO be fattened on
corn then the cattle go TO Kansas
City for slaughter and the carcasscs
come back to western Kansas dressed
for consumption. This makes four
trips by rail. two eastward and two
westward. All of these railroad trips
20 into the cost OF the retail beef.
II lived some years at Lawrence
Kas., before the beef trust had spied
out and conquered the land. when the
Armour people used to send their
agents into Kansas to solicit business
In dressed meat and the local butcher
slaughtered his beef at home In com
petition with Armour and others
prices were kept down. But since
then the local butchers have been
squeezed out by the big meat COM
binations. and now all our dressed
meat must come from the big meat
trust plants at Kansas City. chicago
or Omaha. The railroads get lot
of transportation back and forward
the combine stores meat TO meet the
time when there is big demand. All
OF these services, as well as pronts'
are added TO the cost OF the poor
mans meat.
"Tbe tariff is a great factor in high
prices.
IF the tariff on sugar had been
reduced, sugar would now be cheaper
"If the tariff OH cotton had been
reduced. instead OF raised In spots all
calicoes. cotton cloths and clothins
would now be cheaper.
IF the tariff on wool had been low
cred ON all. instead OF raised on some
items. wooden goods and clothing
would now be cheaper.
IF the tariff had been reduced on
lead and taken off the ore. all lead
paints and lead pipe used In buiidins
homes would be cheaper.
IF tariff had not been continued
and raised on the products or the DIS
emit trust their products would now
he cheaper. or at least the packages
would be larger and heavier.
This is true Of all canned food pro-
ducts and household utensils on which
the tariff should be lowered or remoV'
ed. 60.
I'VE need" said the senator, pet
ter regulations OF all kinds Tor com
biuation. whether state or nationai ~
scope. Perhaps it will be necessary
TO cast an exploring eye into tnt
methods OF the big meat combines ant
their storage plant schemes whereof,
they buy cheap eggs and other pro
ducts In the summer time ana noi'
them for highest prices, perhaps io'
years.
1T is well known that there are nov
nrice combinations in all branches OF
wholesale and retail trade wherep,
nrices are lined up and made the saihe
evervwhere SOFA to eliminate com
petition and prevent cut prices. some
Accumulation into these methods OF
lining ND prices among retailers VII
no doubt yield facts worthy OF stuoy'