The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-28

SHOW APATHY
IN ACTING
Four Members of Federal
Grand Jury Finally Force
Government to Act

CHICAGO, Jan. 27.-Four members
Of the federal grand jury, which in
Vestigated the so-called beef trust
in 1908, forced the government,
through Judge Lands, to start the
current here today.
Assistant Attorney General Wade
Ellis, who spent the day here, denied
that there was any friction among
government officials concerning the
present investigation, and that Dis
trict Attorney Sims would remain in
charge.
Concerning the inception of the
present action, it is said there would
have been none, had the four dissatis-
fled jurymen not sought the aid Of
Judge Lands.
This quartet, it is said, was willing
to indict the packers in December,
1908, and finally became so indignant
over the increasing price of meat that
they informed Judge Lands that they
thought it was time for the govern
ment to begin another inquiry.
Sudden Apathy Develops.
The report of the four jurors al
mitted to the 1908 grand jury to war
rant true bills, and that, in spite of
this, there was a sudden apathy on
the part of those behind the prose-
cution. They also said that if the
Investigation was not renewed i'm
mediately they would make a state
ment to the publ setting forth their
theory of why the prosecution had
been dropped
Lands investigates.
Following the jurors complaint,
Judge Lands is said to have made
the investigation that resulted in the
present action being started. Judge
lands, it is said, got in touch with
the evidence submitted to the 1908
grand jury, and he is determined that
the present act shall not be nullified
by influence outside the grand jury
room.
In his statement concerning the pur-
! pose of his visit here and the scope
of the present investigation, Mr. Ellis
said:
/ Il have spent the day in conference
ney, and his associates, and in a call
! known pleasantly for many years
There is no friction whatever in the
| beef inquiry
| The department of justice has been
at work for five or six months investi-
| eating developments of the fresh meat
! industry since the last action by the
government and especially the rela-
! ton of the situation to the prices of
| food and products, with a view to as
certaining whether a cause of action
now exists
Employ Anti Trust Statute.
The inv estigatiOn will be conducted
under the antitrust statute, and may
be either civil or criminal.
Proceedings now impending be-
fore the grand jury of this district
are in line with this investigation
Ordinarily, cases presented to the
grand jury for trial in the courts are
wholly within the routine duties of
the United States attorney. Where
however, the subject of inquiry af-
fects the country at large and, espec-
tally where it involved the complaint
of violation of the antitrust statute
having a more than local effect. the
attorney general exercises a special
supervision. He is particularly
charged by the law with the enforce
ment of this act, and my duties in
this behalf are also fixed by a statute
under his direction.
There win be no change in the
present instance. Mr.. Sims, in whom
the attorney general has entire con-