The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-16
is AFTER BEEF TRUST
New York Begins Prosecution of
the Big Meat Com
bine.

Albany, n. y. Nay I5.-Formsr Su-
preme Court Justice Judson S. Ian
don, as referee, today began an investi-
gauon, under the provisions OF the
antitrust law, to determine whether
or not an Illegal combination to manip-
ulate the price Of meat exists among
the larger packing houses Of the west
Attorney General John G. Davis, with
Attorney J. Newton Fiero as counsel
appeared on behalf of the state. The
firms affected were represented by at
torneys
Subpoenas have been issued for
Arthur Colby, who. it is said, acted
as agent for the packers in fixing prices
70 be charged for beef. and for the
business managers and representatives
IN this state OF Armour & Co. the
Cudahy Packing company, Nelson Nor
us & Co, swift & Co., SchWarzschild &,
Sulzberger, and g. F. Hammond com
pany. These corporations do business
IN this state as foreign corporations
and 1t is stated that if the attorney
general can secure evidence to substan-
tate his claim that a combine exists.
he viii apply TO the supreme court for
an order revoking their certificates
permitting them to do business in this
state
Andrew G. Gerlock, a meat dealer Of
New York. was the first witness. He
knew and had had dealings with Ar
mour q Co, Cudahy Packing company,
Nelson Morris & Co, Swift & Co,
SchWarzchild & Sulzberger, and G. H.
Hammond & Co. He stated the price of
straight beef" at present varied from
Sll TO So per 100 pounds, as against
- per 100 pounds six months ago. The
same rule, he declared. held good with
other kind OF meat. This advance. he
swore, was made simultaneously bv all
OF the firms mentioned. As a result
OF dispute with the manager Of Swift
q Co, regarding payment for beef. he
could not procure beef from anv firm
In New York without payment in ad-
vance. He declared that Michael Null
cahy, an agent for Swift & Co. had
told him that he was on the black
list" and would be kept there until
ne settled his dispute with the firm.
this condition, he declared, existed
FOR ten days, when the matter was set
tied. Witness said that ADAMS e Co
and the 81. Louis Meat company were
not in the alleged combine.
Alfred Epstein, a New York attorney.
was called. Mr.. FieFo asked him if it
was true that he had IN his possession
letters and communications with refer
enee to the operations Of the beef COM
pine. He said he had not, although he
had seen what purported TO be a book
containing communications which
passed between Mr.. Cudahy and his
confidential man, z. L. Hutch. The
book never had been In his possession.
but belonged TO q client. He declined
to name his client, claiming that his
knowing was in the nature of a con
ndentiai communication getWeen an
attorney and a client.
Justice Landon, overruIed the objec-
ton and ordered him to answer. He
refused, and the attorney general asked
that he be ad1udged in contempt. The
witness then stated that the federal
government now had possession Of the
alleged evidence and asked again thar
the question be not pressed.
Attorney General Davis renewed his
motion that the witness be declared in
contempt but consented to an ad-
jouTnment in order that Mr.. Epstein
could prepare a brief showing why the
question was not a proper one.