The Detroit times., 1909-02-05
ROOSEVELT SAYS
|ND|CT GUILTY MEN
IN BEEF TRADE
oovERNMENT's ATToR NEYs
AGAIN ATTACK POWERFUL
BEEF TRusT-EvIDENcE OF
FLAGRANT LAW VIOLATIONS.

CHICAGO, Feb. 5.-The United
States government has again attacked
the powerful beef trust. District Al
torney Sims. under direct orders from
President Roosevelt, plans to indicl
every beef magnate In Chicago. The
orders from Washington are To permit
mo guilty man to escape"
II has been generally believed that
the present federal grand jury was
hearing only rebate charges agains,
Nelson Morris & Co. Gradually thai
inquiry has broadened to every pack
combination than ever before has been
revealed. 1t Is charged. So important
were the discoveries that District AT
torney Sims and his chief assistant
James II. Wilkerson. have rushed Il
Washington TO report to teh attorney
general.
Just as predicted few weeks ago
witnesses from Armour a. Co, Swift
& Co.. and the National Packing Co.
have been suopeneu ana secretly taken
before the grand jury. The inquiry
has switched from the investigation Of
rebate matters of Nelson Morris d
Co. to a full-fedged investigation Of
the beef trust which 1t has now beer
discovered fourishes more than 1t die
prior to the last unsuccessful grant
jury investigation.
The workings of the National Pack
ing Co. have been taken up and care
fully dissected by the grand Jury. This
concern has always been regarded al
the clearing house for the packers.
inquiry viii BE Searching.
The extending of the inquiry from
the Nelson Morris rebate inquiry Il
the entire packing business was done
SO secretly that 1t did not becom,
known until today. Between so ant
100 witnesses from all the packing
houses are to be summoned. This
books OF all the concerns win be taker
before the jury. The beef bushes:
will get the closest scrutiny II has eyel
experienced.
the most fragrant violations Of the anti
trust law have been discovered. On,
man who. Ii In close touch with thu
inquiry. saidt I'VE ind evidence OF ,
real live beef trust sticking out 81
plainly II cannot be disregarded."
Witnesses from the dressed bee
department OF Armour & Co. have
been before the grand jury as we'll az
men from Swift & Co. Still more will
be subpened. Those who have been
questioned were also questioned con
corning the shipment Of beef by the
Armour Company. Shipment sheets
from Armour & Co. have been before
the jury for explanation. So cleverly
has this been done that the witnesses
OF Armour and Swift believed they
were there merely to strengthen the
relate case against Norris & Co.
1t Is thed esire OF the government to
show that not only did Morris & Co
get about 100000 year by an illegal
railroad rebate system, but the same
system was used by most Of the pack
ing companies and b the means OF
its use are able to keep together a
combination many times as powerful
as any previously formed.
Big Combination Cited.
Another point which IL to be taken
up In the inquiry is the reported for
nation of an auxiliary combination for
the beef trust In the New England
states. II has been charged that
Swift & Co., by the expenditure oil
SIC, 900 900, formed this company, In
Guiding every packing and provision
house In Ave states Tannerfes have
also been included. Included In this
deal. II Is declared, are the follow
irg:
The North Packing & Provision Co..
OF Somerville. including the John p
Suuires & Co. concern.
White, Peavey & Dexter Co.. OF
Worcester.
Springfield Provision Co, OF Bright
wood, controlled by the North Pack
ing q Provision Co.
The National Calfskin Co., OF Bos.
ton.
A. C. Lawrence Leather Co., Of Bos-
ton.
winchester Tannery Co., Of Boston
Strong, Barnes & Hart Co, OF New
Haven.
The Consolidated Rendering Co.. OF
Boston.
The New England Dressed Meat d
Wool Co.. OF Boston.
The new beef trust investigation will
probably take In all OF the following
concerns and their officers:
Armour q Co, Armour Packing Co.,
Swift q Co., Fairbanks Canning CO.
Morris q Co., Schwarzchild & Sulz
berger Packing Co mot indicted In the
last beef trust case. Cudahy Packing
Co.