The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-21
NOW DEsIED
 BY GARFIELD Sy 1rs He Did Not . Promise Immunity. .cONTRADIcTs THE PACKERS Made No Threats to Compel Pro-
 duction of Figures. Commissioner of Corporations. AS a witnes. for the Government,
 Throws New Light Upon Beef
 Trust Inauiry.

Corporations Garfield took the stand today in the packers case and denied many of the statements made by the witnesses for the pacxers during the hearing of the immunity pleas now in progress
 Edward Morris, Edward ~swift and Arthur Meeker, representatives re- spectively of the packing firms of Nell son, Morris and Company, Swift and Company, and Armour and Company, have all testified that Commissioner Garfield told him that his department had the power to compel information if they refused to give willingly. Mir. Garfield today on the stand declared that he had never made such state ment. He also denied that he had ever promised immunity to the pack CTS. saying that the only protection that had been promised was protec- tion for the individuai figures of their confidential accounts.
 This, he said, had been given them and although the average of these con- fidential figures had been given in the report of the commissioner on the beef industry, industrials had been respec- ted and their names had not been giv- en. 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 connec- ton with the investigation.
 Mr. Garfield was the first witness for the government. the packers hav- ing rested their case shortly before the noon recess of court today.
 Meeting With Packers.
 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 n fhn however. that Krauthofk. the attorney who had advised Armour and Company to allow the inspection of their books and plants. told him that lie would consider an inspection by a federal oficerl on the beer bnainsss rather an CTS He declared that Mir. Krauthofk asked what would he done with the fn- formation kiven by the packers and was informed by the witness that it would be given to the President.
 Mir. KrauthoR asked what the Presi- dent would do with it and Commission or Garfield declared that he could not answer that question, but added. T told him that of course the President would not make any improper use of It."
 Did you say that the packers would be protected if they gave the informa- tion77
 T did not"
 Did you say that all information would be strictly confidentIaIF
 No; 1 did not"
 What did you do with the confl- dential information you secured9"
 Tt was made into averages and given to the President"
 The witnes added that no confiden- tial information other than that aver aged and contained in his oficial report had been given to the President.
 Nh Weferemea Tn NNafh
 Did you say anything to Mr. Kraut hoff about an oath?' asked District Attorney Morrison.
 |, No"
 Did you say that you would let them know about an oath?"
 T did not"
 The witness then told of meeting Ed ward Morris, Edward Swift and Jesse P. Lyman, and declared that his inter- views with them were similar to the one he had with Mir. Krauthoff.
 How did you happen to come to Chi cago February 2S?' asked the District Attorney. s"I came here so that the packers might see that I had used in my report l the figures taken from their books, in | accordance with our agreement. I l wanted them to see that Idid not use the individual figures or the confiden- | tial material"
 HC WltHSSb I1cH Hdtu that ne ndu submitted his report to the packers and | that they all agreed that he had made | q proper use of the confidential infor- | rnati6u given to him.
 Did you ever say to Edward Nor ris that your bureau was entirely d. | vorced from any other department"
 What He Told Morris.
 T did not use those words I said | the bureau reported to the President | and was not under the Department of Justice"
 Did you say to Edward Swift that t had the power to compel information, but you hoped you would not be conl- pelIed to use it?'
 q did not,'
 Was anything said about the pack BITS having protectiJn?"
 Nothing except insofar as that they | were to have protection relative tO he confidential figures"
 The witness was then taken over his with Arthur Meeker. Gen eral Superintendent of Armour and Company Mir. Meeker testified that the commissioner had said to him that the Bureau of Corporations had ample power to compel the giving of informa- lion if necessary. but Commissioner + Garfield said he never made such a statement to Mir. Meeker.
 Commissioner Garfield was on the stand until the adjournment of court T and will testify again tomorrow.