The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-21
GARFIELD MAKES
SWEEPING DENIAL
Says That Statements of the Packers
on the Stand Are
Untrue.

Chicago, Feb. 2O.-Commissioner of
Corporations Garfield took the stand
today in the packers case and denied
many of the statements made by the
witnesses for the packers during the
hearing of the case now in progress.
Edward Morris, Edward Swift and
Arthur Meeker, representatives re-
spectiveIy of the packing firms of Mel
son Morris & Co, Swift & Co, and
Armour & Co, all testified that Com
missioner Garfield had told them that
his department had the power to COM
pei information if they refused to give
it willingly.
Mr.. GARFIELD today on the stand de-
clared that he had never made such a
statement. He also denied that he had
ever promised immunity to the pack
ers. saying that the only protection
that had been promised was protection
for the individual packers of their
confidential figures. This, he said. had
been given them, and although the
average of these confidential figures
had been given in the report of the
commissioner on the beef inquiry, in
dividuals had been respected and their
names had not been given. He also
denied positively that he promised that
all information would be regarded as
confidential. he also denied that he
had at any time said anything regard
ing an oath in connection with the
inquiry Mr.. Garfield was the first
witness for the government, the pack
ers having rested their case shortly
before the noon recess of court today.
MIR. GarfieId's Testimony.
Commissioner Garfield told of his
coming to Chicago and meeting the
packers. his account of the occurrences
and conversations not differing in any
essential from those given by the wit
nesses for the packers He declared,
however. that MI KrauthOff, the at
torney who had advised Mr.. Armour to
allow the inspection of their books and
plants, told him that he would consider
an inspection by a federal officer of the
beef business rather an advantage than
otherwise to the packers.
He declared that Mr.. Krauthoff asked
what would be done with the infoTma-
ton given by the packers, and vas in
formed by the witness that it would be
given to the president.
Mr.. Krauthoff asked what the presf-
dent would do with it, and Commits
sioner Garfield declared that he could
not answer that question, but added:
II told him that, of course, the pres
ident would not make any improper use
of It"
-"Did you say that the packers would
be protected if they gave the informa-
tion?"
Il did not"
did you say that all information
would be strictly CONFIDENTIAL"
mo, did not"
What did you do with the confiden-
tial information you secured?'
ut was made into averages and CIV
en- to the president"
Was No Confidential information.
The witness added that no confiden-
tiaI information other than that aver
aged and contained in his official report
had been given to the president.
did you say anything to Mr.. Kraut-
hoff about an oath?" asked District At
torney Morrison
No"
Did you say that you would let them
know about an oath?"
II did not
The witness then told of meeting Ed
ward Morris, Edward Ewift and Jesse
P. Lyman. and declared that his inter-
views with them were similar TO the
one had with Mr.. Krauthoff.
How did you happen to come to Chi
cago Feb. 2S?" asked the district at
torney.
IT came here so that the packers
might see that had used In my report
the figures taken from their books in
line with our agreement. I wanted
Continued on Page 2.