Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-16
INQUIRY INTO BEEF TRUST
Investigation to Determine Status Of the
Combination is Begun.
MAN ON BLACK LlSr' GIVES TESTIMONY
Says All Packers Advanced Prices
simultaneously and shut Him Out,
Untn He Submitted TO
Terms.

ALBANY, N. Y, May io.-Former su-
preme Court Justice Judson g. Lands. as
referee, today began an investigation under
the provisions of the Donnelly antitrust
law to determine whether or not an IL
legal combination to manipulate the price
of meat exists among the large packing
houses OF the west.
Attorney General John @. Davies, with
Attorney J. Newton Fiero as counsel. ap-
peared on behalf of the state. The firms
affected were represented by attorneys.
Subpoenaes have been issued for Arthur
Colby, who Il is said, acted as agent for
the packers in fixing prices to be charged
for beef and for the business managers
and representatives In this state OF Ar
mour and company. the Cudahy Packing
company Nelson Morris and company
Swift and company. schwarzschlld and
Sulzberger and the @. II. Hammond COM
pany.
These corporations do business in this
state as foreign corporations and 1t is
stated that II the attorney general can
secure evidence to substantiate his claim
that combine exists he will apply to the
supreme court for an order revoking their
certificates permitting them to do business
In this state.
All i-EiceS $50 I'D AT vince.
Andrew w. Gerlock, a meat dealer Of
New York, was the first witness He had
known and had dealings with Armour and
company, Cudahy Packing company, Nell
son Morris and company, Swift and COM
pany, Schwarzschild and Sulzberger, and
G. H. Hammond and company. He stated
the prices OF straight beef" at present
varied from s11 to $12 per hundred pounds
as against $s per hundred six months ago.
The same rule, he declared held good with
other kinds of meat.
This advance, he swore, was made sim
ultaneously by all of the firms mentioned.
As a result of a dispute with the man.
ager of Swift and company regarding pay
ment for beef he could not procure beef
from any firm In New York without pay
ment in advance.
He declared that Michael Mulcahy, an
| agent for Swift and Company, had told him
that he was on the "black list and would
| be kept there until he settled his dispute
with the firm. This condition, he declared,
| existed for ten days, when the matter was
| settled. Witness said that Adams & Co.
and the st. Louis meat companies were
not in the alleged combine.
Refuses to Give Up.
u
was called. Mr.. Fiero asked him II it was
true that he had in his possession letters
and communications with reference to the
| operations of the beef combine.
| He said he had not. although he had
seen what purported to be book contain
ing communications which passed between
Mr.. Cudahy and his confidential man, E. l..
| Hughes The book never had been in his
possession, but left with a client. He de-
| clined to name his client, claiming that
his knowledge was in the nature of q
confidential communication between an at
| torney and a client.
Justice Landon overrued the objection
and ordered him to answer. He refused
and the attorney general asked that he be
| adjudged in contempt The witness then
stated that the federal government now
had possession of the alleged evidence and
asked again that the question be not
| pressed.
| Attorney General Davies renewed his mo-
tion that the witness be declared in con-
tempt, but consented to an adjournment in
order that Mr.. Epstein could prepare a
brief showing why the question was not a
proper one.