The Cairo bulletin., 1906-02-21
GARFIELD ON THE
WITNESS STAND
COMMISSIONER DENIES THE RE.
PORTS GIVEN OUT aY
PACKERS.
HE MADE NO PROMISES
Relative to Immunity and Did Not
Force Statements From Them
Takes Stand in Hearing
of Pleas.

Chicago, Feb. Comms sloner OF
Corporation. Garfield took the stand
today in the Packers case, and denied
many statements made by Witnesses
for the packers during the hearing
of immunity pleas now in progress.
Edward Morris, Edward Swift and
Arthur Meeker representatives le
pectively cf the Nelson Morris. Swift
and Armour companies, all testified
that Garfield had told them his dc.
partment had power to compel infor-
nation if they refused TO give 1t will
ingly
Garfield today on the stand declared
he had never made such statement
He also denied that he had ever prom
iaeI immunity 10 the packers. say ng
the only protection promised was pro.
lection fer the individual figures of
their confidential affairs This, he
aid had been given them, and al
though the average of these coniidea-
tial figures had been given in the re-
port of the commissioner ON the beef
industry, individuals had been re.
spected 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 regarding an oath in con.
nection with the investigation Gar
field was the first witness for the gov
crnmcnt the packers having rested
their case shortly before the noon
EacesS~ vi "a tbg copgt today.
4 Garfield told OF BIS coming 10 Chica-
90 and meeting the packers, his ac.
count of occurrences and ccnyersa.
tions not differing In any essential
from these given by the wineries fer
the packers He declared however
that Attorney Krauthoff, who had adj
vsed Armour to allow an lnsnection
of the books and plants, told him that
he would consider an inspect on by
federal officers OF the beef business
rather an advantage than otherwise.
to the packers. He declared that
Krauthoff asked what would be done
with the information given by the
packers, and was informed by the wit.
ness that it would be given to the
president Krauthoff asked what the
president would do with il. and Gar
field declared that he could not answer
that question, but added
II told him that of course the presi.
dent would NOT make any improper use
Of a."
Did you say the packers would be
protected If they gave Information ?"
Il did not"
Did you say that all information
would be strictly coniidential?"
NO. did not"
did you ever say to Edward Nor.
iis that your bureau wa entirely d.
yorced from any other department."
Il did no use those words. said
he bureau reported to the president.
and was not under the department OF
Justice"
"Dd you say to Edward Swift that
YOU had power to compel informa-
tion but that you hoped you would
not be compelled 10 use it?"
81 did not"
Was anything said about the pack.
ers having protection
Nothing. except in so for rs that
they were to have protection relative
10 confidential figures"
The witness was taken over his con
versation with Arthur Meeker. general
superintendent for Armours. Meekcr
testified that the commiss oner had
said to him that the bureau of corpor-
ations had ample power to compel
information, but Garfield said he never
made such a statement to Meeker
Garfield will ties fy again tomorrow.