New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-15
RAIL RATE HERE
HOLDS UP LATIN
TRADE In MEATS
Business Advanced Until
Railroad Opposition Sets
In, Commission Is Told.
ALL ROADS ACCUSED
EXCEPT NEW HAVEN
Car Investment Awaits Tariff
Move-Weekly Argentine
Steam Service Planned.

insufficient and expensive shipping
facilities in New York threaten the
development Of the trade in South
American meats, according TO teSti-
mony given yesterday at a hearing OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
c. V. Burnside, as examiner, represent
Ell the commission. The hearing was
held in the Custom House.
Beef, mutton and lamb imported
from Argentina and Uruguay, repre-
sentatives of South American firms de-
clared, sold from two 20 six cents lower
than domestic meats and were an i'm
portant factor in keeping down prices
in the United States. The traffic in
frozen and chilled meats was expand
ing and had reached as far west as
Chicago and Milwaukee, they averred,
when last year trunk line railroads be-
gan to put barriers in its way. All
the Eastern trunk line roads except
the New Haven are mentioned in the
complaint.
The plaintiffs are the Cia. Sansi-
rona de Carnes, of BuenOs Ayres, and
the Frigovifca Uruguay, of Monte
vdeo. Both are Independent packing
concerns, represented in this country
by A. II. Benjamin. Mr.. Benjamin
wanted to know why he couldn't get
enough refrigerator cars and wanted
q restoration for former car float ia
cilities.
South American packers did not feel
justified in investing in cars of their
own, said a witness, until they knew
the policy Of the next administration
regarding the tariff.
"If tariff were placed on meat,
would that stop South American i'm.
portations ?" he was asked.
NO" was the answer, because beef
is so scarce in this country that it will
( have to be imported, even if there is
q duty to pay. But the business is too
uncertain for us TO increase our in
yestment-at least, until the next
election"
A weekly steamship service to Ar
gcntina is contemplated, Mr.. Benjamin
declared with increased shipments Of
chilled meats Now about 40 per cent
Of the imported meat is chilled and
the remainder frozen. SiXty-fve per
cent of all meat thus imported is sold
in the New York market, Mr.. Benja-
min said.
James G. Fritts, Of the Delaware,
LackaWanna & western Railroad, ana
F. s. Kent, of the Pennsylvania, testi-
fed that expensive equipment was nee.
essary for the shipment of chilled
reats. The necessary hooks and racks
would cost 5000 car, they said, and
to install a full refrigerating system
would increase the cost to $500. Fran
els lie Veau, of the New York Cen
trail, declared that no railroad would
Undertake the expenses necessary for
such shipments without a complete an
Outstanding as to the volume of bust
ness 10 be expected.
Numerous one-car orders were the
cause of the jump in car float rates,
Mr.. lie Veau said A new arrangement
involving union floats would 90 into
effect next month, he added, and SUI
rersedc the siX-car minimum regu!a-
ton. G.. II. Alexander, Of the New
York Central, testified that the Ner-
chants Dispatch Transportation Line
was owned by the railroad and fur
nished cars without discrimination.
Only lao Of its 5000 cars, he added,
had hooks and racks for shipping fresh
meat.