The Washington times., 1912-06-01
CONGRESS TO START
INVESTIGATION OF
THE BEEF TRUST
Times Exposure of CON-
bine's Extortion Has AS
sured Immediate Probe.
Continued from First Page.O

ton and that the Department of JUS
tice shoul dproceed with the prosecution
n and dissolution of the Beef trust, he
says he has no objection to a Congress
sional investigation or any substitute
; arrangement which may be decided
{ upon after conference with the House
leaders.
The Edwards resolution fits in with
movement now on In the House to
begin a probe of the Beef trust. Con-
gressman Robert Lee Henry. chair
man of the Rules Committee, said to-
probe of the entire meat situation,
and Mrs Henry indicated that the
Rules Committee may take prompt
action on some resolutioni looking TO
. manner in which beef prices are
manipulated at will by the beef
barons,
diate probe by the Department of JUS
. tice, Congressman Edwards said to-
. day, n,. ,,.,., ,,.. 49,.
ter on the head. The situation is ad-
mirably portrayed in that editorial:
Beef is becoming a luxury instead of
q necessity The beef people tell us
there is a scarcity of live stock, while
the Department of Agriculture furn-
ishes an entirely different story.
~ am in favor of having one branch
of the Government conduct these In
tice should handle the probe. and
then If it is found that the present
laws are inadequate to meet the sit
uation he has but to apply to Con-
gress and the law can be amended so
as to enable the Attorney General
to act against these men who are de-
fiant of the law.
Proof Of Trust.
'There is no doubt in my mind of
the existence of q Beef trust and the
public probably is also confident of
the existence of such an illegal COM
hination, for the Jumping prices fur
nish all the proof needed.
The Times editorial expresses the
idea when it says the situation is one
which cannot be ignored by the Gov
ernment l am aware that 1t may be
ticklish proposition for the Admins
tration to tackle at this time, but there
should be no delay, regardless of poll
tics. l am in hopes that after the Chi
cago convention a searching and hon
est probe will be conducted.
''I believe the present laws are ade-
auate to prosecute and dissolve the
Beef trust. The fact that one action
has failed in Chicago should not deter
the Department of Justice. If there is
q fault with the law, however, | am
confident that Congress will do its part
. to. place the right kind of weapon in
the hands of the Department of Justice,
Asks New Law.
"As pointed out by The Times In it's
editorial yesterday afternoon, IL the
present law cannot reach the beef trust.
which every one knows has cornered
the market and makes prices at will,
then let us have law that can"
In it's editorial yesterday The Times
Had nft In nj
beef barons for the constant rise in
prices. According to the Beef trust,
there is a scarcity of live stock, "a
shortage in shipments from the West"
Along comes a bulletin from the
bureau of Stotistics which pertinently
says:
1.-The live stock receipts at the seven
principal Western markets as reported
10 the Bureau of Statistics of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor, in
. April, 1912, We're greater than those OF
aggregate receipts of live. stock at the
seven markets during the four months
of the present year were greater by
far than during the same four months
Of any year during the past decade"
The statistical evidence, therefore, is
directly contrary to the claim advanced
by the beef trust to an inquisitive pub
lie. The issue of veracity between the
Government and the packers Is clearly
drawn.
House May Act.
1t is probable that a House COM
mittee NAV begin probe of the Beef
trust, irrespective Of the inquiry
which the adoption of the Edwards
resolution probably will make imper-
ative by the Department of Justice.
Congressman Henry is known to be
working on plan to bring about a
Congressional probe, which would be
supplementary so and possibly of con-
siderable aid to any investiga tion
started by the Attorney General.
Mr.. Henry as chairman of the Rules
Committee occupies a strategic posi-
tion and undoubtedly would have the
support Of the House in any attempt
he might make to report legisla tion
looking toward probe of the Beef
trust.
In asserting that he would ask i'm
mediate action on his resolution direct
Ing the Attorney General to investigate
the existence a Beef trust and to dis
solve 1t. Is such exists. Congressman
Edwards said:
The condition described in The Times
editorial show the need of such an in
auiry. We are confronted with rising
prices-the rich man now can scarcely
afford to buy meat. We are also con-
fronted with the beef packers plea that
there is a shortage of live stock. The
Government statistics declare other
wise. The issue cannot be eVaded. and
It Is up to the Department of Justice
to act"
The resolution introduced by Congress
man EdwaT Is, and which was referred
TO the House Committee on Judiciary,
reads as follows
Resolved, That the Attorney General
of the United States is hereby request
Cd, required, and directed to Immediate
ly institute an hone st and thorough in
Vest9ation of the Beef trust in the
United States. with a view of discov-
ering If said trust is controlling the
OriCeS of meats: and that DrOCeedinGs
be at once instituted to dissolve said
monopoly; and that criminal proceed
ings be at once instituted in the courts
against those forming and opera ting
such trust or monopoly