New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-16

nent decided yesterday 10 exclude all
the American meat packers against
whom prosecutions have been instituted
in the United States from rendering for
contracts for the supply Of meat TO the
British ARM pending the settlement Of
the suits.
Chicago. Dec. Id ogden Armour
president Of Armour & Co. under indict-
ment for alleged violation of the Sher-
man antitrust act. admitted to-day
that the Armour company had been
notified that its bids for British army
contracts would not be accepted pend
ing the settlement of suits by the
United States government.
Mr. Armour tonight said that the
contracts of the indicted American pack
ers with the British army, estimated
roughly. had amounted to between Slo,-
100000 and $2O,O00O0O annually.
Mr.. Armour said he had no idea
whether other countries contemplated
action similar to that taken by Eng
land
During the Boer war and on one or
more other occasions" said Mr. Ar
mour. the contracts of the American
packers with England amounted TO more
than S2OoOOOO0 annually. If I remem-
ber correctly These figures. however
are simply rough estimates, made on
hand"
He added that he had no idea whether
other countries contemplated action SIM
liar 10 that the British government.
Alfred r. Urion. OF counsel for Ar
nour & Co, after a conference with the
concerns officials. said:
Great Britains action cuts off our
largest market for canned meats, which
amounted 10 millions of pounds annual
IT, There is thus lost a market for
those products which cannot be made
,,n i'm any way. There is no demand In
this country which will equalize the loss
~ the companies affected. The loss
seems greater for the reason that every
pound Of canned meat represents two
rounds Of fresh meat"
Representatives of the other packing
concerns whose cases are now in the
,ourt refused TO discuss the effect which
tho ruling Of the British War Office
would have
rondon Dec 15-The agents in the Brit
isb Isles of the prominent American meat
racters. who have up till now secured large
Government contracts for the supply ot
,,sgts 70 the army and navy. have received
tho following notification from the war VI
fee:
Pending the ultimate result OF the lesdl
proceedings i'm the United States against
certain meat packing firms. II mas Oeeh ue-
cided bv the British government that none
Of the firms involved shall be inVlled 10
tender for army supplies.
The decision Of the government Is que 10
the opposition If Labor and Advanced Radl-
cal members # Parliament to the Amen-
can trusts.
II was explained by officials of the war
O4re this afternoon that the government
gction regarding American meat packers
was in accordance with its regular pohtl'
In case any company with which the gov
comment dealt became involved ~ serious
litigation the government Immediately re-
framed from giving contracts TO that com
rarr while the litigation continued. Bil'lsh
Nrq. received the same treatment uhueI
Oh, zane circumstances.
There is little doubt that the Admiralty
y,u follow IN the same lines as the War
omce The War once usually gives con
tracts for short terms. inviting monthly
tcaG,ry from the contractors while the Ad-
rralty usually asks for tenders for long
r,riods
Tie contracts given out 10y the war u
f.e which had hitherto been secured by
/n,lcan firms. are now expected to g" 10
dr-cauna meat packers.
The decision Of the British War Office TO
exclude all American meats shipped by
packers against whom prosecutions have
been instituted iu this country may result
m e. material advantage 10 the consumers
hero. .t was pointed out last night. Beer
prices have been dropping steadily within
tho last ten months without any OUTSIDE
incentive. and il is expected that the action
Of the British government. resulting as
II WILL in decreased meat demand ABROAD
will contribute 20 the downward tendency
According 10 figures furnished by a large
Who.tsalo meat concern in this city, the top
price u thp choice cuts of beef was f'achtH
during the latter part Of October when RIOS
and loms of the finer class were listed at j.
cents % pound and rounds and cnucks at
10 cents and cents, respectively. EaHE
in November there was drop Of han d
cent in tine choice cuts. which was followed
iu tic mdlio of Tho month by another hali
cont drop
Hy Ono last OF November the price for
Il5 and .oius Of The first class ildd IaIlth
1" T. cents. within TWO weeks the price
bad dropped another cent on the pound,
making thc total fall in the price since
october three cents.