St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-05
Phil Armour Says 1t Would
Be Inconvenient for Him
to Attend.
Secretary Williams, Of the
Stock Yards. Refuses to
Answer Questions.
1t Looks as Though the In
vestigation Is a Stupen-
dOuS Farce.

transportation industries drTlV0u dG d
position this morning when it became
necessary to resort to vigorous meas
ures, or acknowledge the whole affair to
be stupendous farce. G. F. Swift, the
millionaire dressed beef dealer, had
been subpenaed for the third time, and
it was reported that he had agreed to
appear before the commission this MORN
ing. He did not come. The messenger
who served the summons was called.
What did Mr. Swift say?'' asked Senator
Farwell.
''He said he would be here without fail"
You are sure you saw him in personT'
asked Senator Vest who was evidently labor
ing under suppressed Indignation.
The messenger accurately described
the delinquent packer.
''You saw Mr.. Armour again?'
81 did,
''And what did he say?''
'He told me it would be extremely incon-
venient for him to be here at this hour, but
he would send word as to when he would
come"
and he has sent no words"
NO"
Senator Coke took huge piece of
plug tobacco from his pocket and trans
ferred the large half to his mouth,
rolling it about reflectively. 1t began to
look serious, and the three senators
leaned over the table in whispered con-
sultation. Just then Secretary George
I. Williams, of the Union Stock Yards
and Transit company. entered the
room. He was ordered the other day
to again appear before the commission
with certain statistics of shipments and
a list of stockholders in his company.
A 4 tIn nf r
Williams took seat in the WitneS
chair.
"You have that list?' asked Senator Far
well.
MIR. Williams murmured mo"
why not?'' demanded Senator Vest, with
flashing eyes.
81 thought best to see counsel about the
nish the list"
"Then you decline as secretary of the COM
pany to produce list of the stockholders?'
Il do
''That is all. sir.
MI. Williams was only too glad to get
away, and again the senators consulted
together.
President John B. Sherman, of the
stOckyardS company. was the next wit
ness. He strOlled into the room, and
was sworn.
tle?' he was asked.
1.-THE packers and the shippers-men like
Eastman and Munroe, who buy for Eastern
parties, and dressed beef dealers like Ar
mour. Swift and the LiDbys."
DO you know who the stockholders are?'
mo; that is the secretary's business
''What do you charge shippers for hayf'
1--WE charge 81 for prairie hay and 81 so
for tame hay. We also get % cents for yard
age'
'Can shipper buy hay outsider"
'No; that is the only way we have to gain
q revenue"
Mr.. Sherman said that there had been
10000 head of cattle In the yards at one
time. The charge for yardage included
considerable service. as the stock yards
company furnished the tracks connect
ing with the railroads.
Senator Vest-Your secretary said there
was S4,500,0O0 in stock of the company. Is
this true?
Il think that is the amount
''Now what is the market price of that
stock?"
'.Oh, it varies. Sometimes it is at par. 1
have known it to be as low as 90. or as high
as 115."
1T is not quoted on the stock exchanged"
81 think not.
sand there is little sold?'
''Very little, believe"
Senator Coke asked the witness If
there were any relations between the
stock yards at Omaha and Kansas City
and those at Chicago. Mr.. Sherman
said there were none whatever. Then
he was excused, and after vainly wait
ing for some time for word from Armour
the commission took a recess until 2
o'clock. Senator Farwell was asked
what the commission proposed to do in
case MeSsrs. Armour, Swift and Nor
ris failed to make their appearance.
''We have not considered such an emer-
gency YETI
will you take measures to force them
come in?''
Il can not say. 1 do not think it will be at
all necessary"
At the afternoon meeting Chairman
Vest, in discussing the absence of Mr..
Armour and other gentlemen. said he
was sorry that number of persons, i'll
cIuding the heads of several of the
prominent dressed beef firms, had re-
fused to attend the sessions of the COM
mittee, and had paid no attention to its
subp9nas. Mr.. Vest said there was no
doubt about the power of the commission
to compel the attendance OF persons
summoned before it as witnesses, and
read several statutory clauses providing
for the punishment
BY FINE AND IMPRISONMENT
of parties willfully falling to appear
before committees of either house of
Mr.. Vest, continuing, said
that although they could compel attend
ance, they could not compel unwilling
witnesses to testify to all they knew,
and he feBred if they had those parties
brought in before them now, they
would find themselves in the same pre-
dicament they were in at the start. All
they could do, therefore, was to report
the facts to the senpte. with view to
having the matter placed in the hands
of the district attorney of the District
of Columbia, and brought by him be-
fore the federal grand jury.
81 have here telegram continued SEN
ator Vest, about which had desired to per-
here; | intended in justice to 90 so before
making it public, but, inasmueh as he has re-
fused to appear here, l will now make him
publicly aware of its contents. 1t was sent
to me by a gentleman about whose respecta-
bilitY there can be no question"
Freeland, Pa, Dec. 49, 1S8s.-Can't allow
Schwab to continue killing live stock. If he
will not STOP make other arrangements, and
make the price so we can get his trade.
ARMOUR & Co.
The following was unanimously
passed, after which the committee ad-
journed:
Whereas, Philip Armour, Nelson Morris.
Louis F. Swift Frank E. Vogel, j. S. New
man and Jacob Meyer, having been duly and
lawfully summoned to appear as witnesses
before this committee, have repeatedly re-
fused TO obey the same. it is ordered that the
b.. To fha n1lei of ff,ac