Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-12
ARMOUR AND VEST.
Chairman Vest TOuehingly Discusses the
Absence Of the Big Packer.
Philip Styles Him the Champion and Advocate
of the st. Louis Deserted Cattle
MISUNDERSTANDING Ma,

CHICAGO, ILL, Sept. THE se9eseFial in
vestigation into the dressed beef aH
portation industries arrived at : positssis thSs
morning, when it became necessary to reg
vigorous measures or acknowledge the vpaie
affair to be stupendous farce. G. E. Svsgb
the millionaire dressed beef dealer, had beea
subpanaed for the third time and it was reported
that he had agreed to appesr before the CONS
mission this morning. He did not come and
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 person. asked
Senator Vest, Who was evidently Iabor!ng under
The messenger accurately described the delin-
,'Yop saw Mr.. Armour again?''
And what did he say?''
He told me 1t would he extremely inconven-
lent for him TO be here at this hour, but ne
would send word as to when he would come -
He has sent no word?''
Senator Coke took huge piece OF plug to-
bacco from his pocket and transferring a large
half to his mouth. rolled il about TefectiveIy.
It began TO look serious and the three senators
leaned over the table and engaged ii a whispered
consultation. Just then Secretary George T.
Williams OF the Union stock yards ana transit
company entered the room. He was ordered
the other day to again appear before the COM
mission with certain statistics OF shipments and
a list of tire stockholders III his company. At
the request OF Senator Vest Mr.. Williams took 4
seat in the witness stand.
You have that Iist?'' asked Senator Farwell.
MIR. Williams murmured: No"
why not?'' demanded Senator Vest with
flashing eyes.
= Thought it best to see counsel about the
matter, and have been advised not to furnish
list
Then you decline, as secretary of the COM
pany, to produce list Of the stockholders?''
That is all. sir
Mr. Williams was only too glad to get away,
and again the senators consulted together. sem
ator FarweH was asked what the commission
proposed TO do in case MessrS. Armour, Swift
ana Morris failed TO make their appearance.
we have rot considered such an emergency
''WIn you take measures to force them to
come imp
- can't say do not think it will be neces-
sary."
At the afternoon meeting Chairman Vest. in
discussing the absence of Mr.. Armour and other
gentlemen, said he was sorry number Of per
sons, Including the heads of several OF the prom
inent dressed beef firms, had refused to attend.
the sessions of the committee and had paid nd
attention to its subp9Daes. Mr.. Vest said there.
was no doubt about the power OF the commlsSlou4
to compel the attendance Of persons summoned
before It IS witnesses. and read several statu-
tory clauses providing for punishment by fine
and Imprisonment of parties willfully falling
to appear before committees of either
house of congress. Mr.. Vest, continuing, said
could not compel unwilling wltnesres to testify
to ali they knew and ne feared if they had those
parties brought II before them now they' would
find themselves IN the same predicament they
were in at the start. All they could do. there
fore, was to report the facts 20 the senate with
view to having the matter placed in the hands Of
the district attorney OF Columbia and brought
by him before the Federal grand jury.
49, d have here a telegram e5F CON
had desired to personally ask
Mr.. Armour had he appeared here. I intended
in justice to do so before making it public, but
inasmuch as ne has refused to appear here I viii
1t was sent to me by a gentleman about
whose Tespectability there can be no question
FREELAND, PADRE. Is, 1888.
Can't allow Schwab to continue killing live
mepts, and make the price so we can get his
trade. ARMOUR & Co.
The following was unanimously passed, after
which the committee anjOurncd
Whereas, Phillip Armour, Nelson Norris
Louis F. Swift Frank F. VOgeI, Joseph S. New
man and Jacob E. Meyer have been duly and
lawfully summoned to appear as witnesses be-
fore this committee, and have repeatedly re-
fused to obey the same, it IS ordered that the
facts be reported to the chairman Of the ser
ate of the United States at its next session,
in pursuance OF the charter of the Revised
Statutes of the United States.
After this action had been taken reporter for
the Associated Press called on Mr.. Armour and
asked for an interview. Mr. Armour thereupOn
made the following statement: ''The reason we
did not appear before the senatorial committee
was that we knew we could not expect fair treat,
ment from the hands OF Mr.. Vest, VINO is nOto-
riOusly on record as opposed to the dressed beef
business. He is the champion and advocate Of
the st. Louis deserted cattle markets and Op-
posed TO Chicago interests. He has been
friendly to all the hostile beef inspection bills
that have been introduced in the various state
legislatures against Chicago dressed beef which,
if passed, would have destroyed. this business.
We are perfectly willing to appear before an I'M
partial committee and give any information per
tanning to our business which IS not Of strictly
private nature. We have never exerted any
influence to depress The price Of cattle in
crease the price of dressed beef On the other
hand, 1t is q well-knOWn fact that cattle are
81 per hundred higher than they would
be if it not for the dressed beef industry
and get a great deal more out of a bull
lock than q butcher or Q man who kills in small
quantities We have never had any assOcia-
ton with Swift, Hammond or Morris directly or
Indirectly in the purchase of cattle. The teie-
gram that Mr. Vest read this afternoon for the
sake OF getting 1t on record was directed TO our
own agent, whom we had perfect right to
tell that he should not XII cattle if he sold
our dressed beef and II is entirely stripped Of
its force when the fact is understood that the
man was our own representative.
The committee Of senators adjourned to meet
Friday at Des Moines-