The Irish standard., 1906-02-24
DENIES PROMISES
TO BEEF packers
CoMMIssIoNER GARFIELD DE.
CLAREs NO OFFERS OF I'M
MUNITY WERE EVER MADE.
OFFICIAL TESTlFlES
IN TRIAL At CHICAGO
Disputes Assertions of Defense That
Information Concerning Business
Furnished by Them Would Not
Be Used to Convict,

Information Concerning Business
Furnished by Them Would Not
Be Used to Convict.
Chicago, Feb. 22-Resuming the
witness stand in the trial of the pack
ers' immunity pleas before Judge
Humphrey Wednesday, James r. Gar.
field, commissioner of corporations,
made fiat denial of many assertions
made by the witnesses for the defense
He declared that on no occasion did he
say the information about the pack
ers' business which was furnished to
him in his investigation Of the beef
industry would not be used against
the packers.
The opening questions were on the
books examined by Mr.. Garfield when
he visited Chicago February %. The
books showed the assembling of prof
its and loss accounts of the various
packers. He said he examined the
totals only and no figures we're taken
: from the books.
"Were these totals kept separately
as to hogs, sheep and cattle?"
II think so. but l do not remem-
Der about that"
Immunity Pledge Denied.
He said he thought he met Charles
H. Swift in April, but had no con-
versation with him. He denied that
Edward Swift said, in the presence
of Charles H. Swift, that he had said
in a previous conversation that all in
formation taken would be considered
confidential.
: "Did Edward Swift recite then that
you had said none of the information
would be used to harm Swift & Coz"
was asked.
"He did not"
The witness then told the details Of
his meeting with Jesse P. Lyman, tten
president of the NATIONAL Packing
company. He said he had explained
to Mr.. Lyman the situation in regard
to the Investigation.
He declared he did not say any,
thing about his power to produce
books and papers. nor that all in
formation would be confidential and
not used to injure the packers.
Mr.. Garfield said he met Charles
McFarlane in the Office of Morris &
Co. at the stock yards and told Nc
F'arlane that E. Dana Durand would
make the investigation. Edward Nor
ris was present.
Did anyone say to them that you
had the power to compel this informa.
tion, but that 1t would not be used
in any prosecution or proceedings?"
Nothing Of that kind was said at
that time"
Conference with Meeker.
The conference between Mr.. Gar.
field and Arthur Meeker at Washing.
ton was again brought up by the dis.
trict attorney. At that time Mr..
Meeker displayed newspaper articles
In which it was stated. public hearings
were to follow The witness said he
told Mr.. Meeker public hearings could
not be held because the report of Mr..
Garfield had to be made to the presi.
dent. He said nothing was said about
a confidential report at that confer.
ence.
Conversations between Mr.. Garfield
and T. j. Connors, director of Armour
& Co.. at Washington. were then taken
up. A memorandum was used at this
conversation, the witness declared.
The subject discussed included in.
formation which Armour & Co. object.
ed to giving the government
One Of the subjects was general re.
suits in the beef business. He said
that Mr.. Connors told him he did not
believe the company should be com.
PEELED to give the profit and loss &C.
counts of the business. Another sub.
ject discussed was concerning dressed
cost and selling prices. the witness ex.
planned. The final subject was con.
corning the desire of Armour & Co. to
cooperate with the department, but
also desired to safeguard the profit
and loss. accounts A memorandum
containing the various subjects, the
witness said. had been dictated to a
stenographer in Mr.. Connor's presence,