United States Senate Select Committee on the Transportation and Sale of Meat Products
- United States Senate Select Committee on the Transportation and Sale of Meat Products
The Select Committee on the Transportation and Sale of Meat Products, also known as the Vest Committee, after its first chairman Senator George G. Vest of Missouri, was a select committee of the United States Senate from 1887-1921. It was established to consider various aspects of the meat packing industry.
History
The committee was formed in response to complaints by cattle producers and ranchers of abuse by major meat packers. It was the first investigation of the meat packing industry by U.S. Congress.[DiLorenzo, Thomas J. [http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv13n3/reg13n3-dilorenzo.html The Origins of Antitrust Rhetoric vs. Reality.] Cato Institute. "Regulation Magazine." Vol. 12, No. 3.] One of the committee's first hearings was in St. Louis in November 1888 to investigate allegations that the "Big Four" meatpackers in Chicago were trying to "freeze out" competitors. [ [http://www.h-net.org/~business/bhcweb/publications/BEHprint/v007/p0044-p0061.pdf American Law and the Marketing Structure of the Large Corporation, 1875-90.] ] In 1890, the committee issued a report that found no evidence of collusion by the major meat packers,][ but outlined various incidences of price fixing in the beef industry. [ [http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry99b6.html?recid=2792 The short story on meat packing consolidation in America.] ] ]The committee's report stated, in part:
"The principal cause of the depression in the prices paid to the cattle raiser and of the remarkable fact that the cost of beef to the consumer has not decreased in proportion, comes from the artificial and abnormal centralization of markets, and the absolute control by a few operators thereby made possible."
"In place of the old system when shippers and butchers went from one cattle raiser to another, competing in the purchase of cattle, there is now a concentration of the market at a few points… So far has this centralizing process continued that for all practical purposes the [Chicago] market… dominates absolutely the price of beef cattle in the whole country." [ [http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/agoutlook/Dec2002/ao297f.pdf Controversies in Livestock Pricing.] Economic Research Service/USDA. Agriculture Outlook, December 2002.]
Chairmen
ources
*Report of the Select Committee on the Transportation and Sale of Meat Products, Senate Report No. 829, 51st Congress, 1st Session. United States Senate. Government Printing Office. May 1890.
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
List of defunct United States congressional committees — The United States Congress has operated with more than 1500 standing, special, select, or joint committees over the years.[1][2][3] Many committees of these committees are now defunct. In some cases, their responsibilities were merged with other… … Wikipedia
United States — a republic in the N Western Hemisphere comprising 48 conterminous states, the District of Columbia, and Alaska in North America, and Hawaii in the N Pacific. 267,954,767; conterminous United States, 3,022,387 sq. mi. (7,827,982 sq. km); with… … Universalium
Agriculture and Food Supplies — ▪ 2007 Introduction Bird flu reached Europe and Africa, and concerns over BSE continued to disrupt trade in beef. An international vault for seeds was under construction on an Arctic island. Stocks of important food fish species were reported… … Universalium
Mark B. Cohen — For other uses, see Mark Cohen (disambiguation). Mark B. Cohen Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 202nd district Incumbent Assumed office 1974 Preceded by Eugene Gelfand … Wikipedia
cañada — /keuhn yah deuh, yad euh/, n. Chiefly Western U.S. 1. a dry riverbed. 2. a small, deep canyon. [1840 50; < Sp, equiv. to cañ(a) CANE + ada n. suffix] * * * Canada Introduction Canada Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources … Universalium
Canada — /kan euh deuh/, n. a nation in N North America: a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 29,123,194; 3,690,410 sq. mi. (9,558,160 sq. km). Cap.: Ottawa. * * * Canada Introduction Canada Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural… … Universalium
Mexico — /mek si koh /, n. 1. a republic in S North America. 97,563,374; 761,530 sq. mi. (1,972,363 sq. km). Cap.: Mexico City. 2. a state in central Mexico. 6,245,000; 8268 sq. mi. (21,415 sq. km). Cap.: Toluca. 3. Gulf of, Mexican, Golfo de México /gawl … Universalium
Australia — /aw strayl yeuh/, n. 1. a continent SE of Asia, between the Indian and the Pacific oceans. 18,438,824; 2,948,366 sq. mi. (7,636,270 sq. km). 2. Commonwealth of, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, consisting of the federated states and… … Universalium
Economic Affairs — ▪ 2006 Introduction In 2005 rising U.S. deficits, tight monetary policies, and higher oil prices triggered by hurricane damage in the Gulf of Mexico were moderating influences on the world economy and on U.S. stock markets, but some other… … Universalium
environment — environmental, adj. environmentally, adv. /en vuy reuhn meuhnt, vuy euhrn /, n. 1. the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences; surroundings; milieu. 2. Ecol. the air, water, minerals, organisms, and all other external factors… … Universalium
