The Detroit times., 1909-02-06
ROOSEVELT SAYS
.|NO|CT GUILTY MEN
IN BEEF TRADE
GOVERNMENTS ATToRN EYs
AGAIN ATTACK POWERFUL
BEEF TRUsT-EvlDENce OF
FlAGRANT LAW VIOLATIONS.

CHICAGO, Feb. 5.-The United
States government has again attacked
the powerful beef trust. District At
torney Sims, under direct orders from
Pre- sident Roosevelt. plans 10 indicr
every beef magnate in Chicago. The
orders from Washington are To permit
mo guilty man 10 escape"
Ii has been generally believed that
the present federal grand jury was
. hearing only rebate charges against
Nelson Morris & Co. Gradually that
inquiry has broadened 10 every pack
ms house in the yards. A greater
combination than ever before has been
revealed, II is charged. So important
were the discoveries that District Al
! torney Sims and his chief assistant,
James II. Wilkerson. have rushed ID
Washington 10 report 10 teh attorney
general.
Just as predicted few weeks ago.
Witnesses from Armour a. Co., Swift
| & Co.. and ihe National Packing Co.
have been suDpeneu ana secretly taken
before the grand jury. The inquiry
has switched from the investigation OF
rebate matters OF Nelson Morris a.
Co. TO a full-fedged investigation OF
the beef trust which IL has now been
discovered fiourishes more than II dil
prior 10 the last unsuccessful grand
jury investigation.
| The workings OF the National Pack
Ing Co. have been taken up and care
fully dissected by the grand jury. / his
concern has always been regarded as
the clearing house for the packers.
The extending OF the inquiry from
the Nelson Morris rebate inquiry TO
the entire packing business was done
SC secretly that IL did not become
known until today. Between 90 and
100 witnesses from all the packing
| houses are TO be summoned. The
! books OF all the concerns will be taken
before the jury. The beef business
will get the closest scrutiny IL has ever
experienced.
Already, il is declared, evidence or
the most fragrant violations OF the anti
trust law have been discovered. Ono
man who is in close touch with the
inquiry, said I'VE find evidence of a
real live beef trust sticking out SO
plainly ii cannot be disregarded.
Witnesses from the dressed beef
department of Armour & Co. have
! been before the grand jury as well as
men from Swift 4 Co. Still more Will
be subpened. Those whe-have been
Questioned we're 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 clevery
ko1 fhat tho witness
| OF Armour and Swift believed they
we're there merely 10 strengthen the
relate case against Morris a. Co.
I Ii is thed esire OF the government to
show that lot only did Norris a. Co.
get about 100000 year by an illegal
railroad rebate system, but the same
! system Was used by most Of the pack
tug companies and by the means or
its use are able 10 keep together d
cmbination many times as powerful
az any previously formed.
Another point which is TO be taken
up In the inquiry is the reported for
II alton OF an auxiliary combination for
I the beef trust In the New England
states. II has been charged that
Swift & Co. by the expenditure OF
! SIT, 000. 900, formed this company, In.
Guiding every packing and provision
house in five states. Tanneries have
also been included. Included In this
deal. it Is declared. are the follow
/ iLg:
| The North Packing & Provision Co,
of Somerville, including the John y.
/ Squires L. Co. concern.
White, Peavey & Dexter Co, OF
Worcester.
Springfield Provision Co, of Bright
wood controlled by the North Pack
I 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 &
Wool Co, of Boston.
! The new beef trust investigation will
probably take in all OF the following
concerns and their officers:
Armour & Co. Armour Packing Co..
Swift & Co, Fairbanks Canning Co.
Norris & Co, SchwarZchild & SlIlz.
berger Packing Co. mot indicted In thu
last beef trust case. Cudahy Packing
| Co.