The sun., 1910-01-29
INQUTRTNG into CAR LINES
JURY AFTER BEEF TRUSTS
STRONGEST WEAPON.


Alleged That by Use OF Private Cars Com.
petitors Are Kept Out or Market
what Ellis Learned From Lands
and Orders He Left for Prosecutors.
CHICAGO, Jan. ss.-Ths beef trust
inquiry took new turn when the Federal
Grand Jury resumed its sessions to-day.
James b. Robbins, president Of the
Armour Car Line Company, was sum-
moned before the inquisitors on forth
with subpoena.
AS the Armour car lines are alleged
to be one of the most formidable weapons
used by the trust the move was regarded
as significant. The trust. operating
through the National Packing Company.
has used the Armour cars to beat down
competition by excessive charges to
competitors. while trust products were
handled at a minimum. according TO the
Government prosecutors.
Mr.. Robbins is one Of the right hand
men OF J. Ogden Armour. and his testi-
mony was expected to be OF great value.
Special agents OF the Department Of
Justice served the subpoena on him and
started him toward the Federal Building
at once.
Il was learned that Mr.. Robbins had
been planning q trip TO Europe next week
and asked that he be allowed to testify
early. This request was acoeded TO by
District Attorney Sims.
Mr.. Robbins remained before the
Grand Jury for more than an hour.
During most of this time. it was reported.
the Grand Jury was considering written
evidence. books. papers and documents.
which Mr.. Robbins was called upon TO
explain.
Subp1nas were issued for a number
OF employees OF the National Packing
Company during the day. They were
Alonzo Benn. secretary to President
Edward Tilden: William F. Weber. auditor;
Thomas H. Cross, cattle buyer; Charles
F. Goepher. hog buyer; F. T. Fuller.
vice-president; Samuel r. Patterson. vice.
president.
The testimony OF the buyers is expected
to be checked up against that given by
the Armour and Swift. buyers several
days ago in an effort to show coilusion
and agreement On prices on incoming
stock.
A conference was held to-day between
Judge Landis and Special Assistant
District Attorney J. B. Wilkerson. who
has charge OF the Grand Jury work.
Neither the Judge nor the prosecutor
would reveal the subject OF the conference
Meanwhile Fred W. Upham. campaign
fund collector for the Republican national
committee In the campaign OF 1908. re-
turned from Washington and denied
stories that he had gone there to use his
influence In oenali OF the packers ana To
ask the Administration to drop or to
modify the prosecution.
Assistant Attornev-General wada ~
ElT. who sn.n, on. d.v =, Ch;o
'pS ".o u"v !" Shio@So
nnoins out What Juose henesaw NJ.
Landis's plans are regarding the prose-
cution Of the beef trust, will be back in
Washington Monday TO report To Presi-
dent Taft and ATTORNEY General wicker
sham IN person.
His report will be essentially that the
Federal ofioials in Chicago. all of whom
ara suhondinata 70 I,,dca Tandi. o..
-, - - 80
soue nSo .ne oee, "uss cAse WIN every
intention OF getting indictments. Ellis
will notify his superior officer that be-
cause Judge X. NJ. Landis CALLED uDoo
this Grand Jury to make a full inquiry
| into the beef case he IA Watching N oIoaaIy
and will brook no interference: that
Judge lands was aroused TO taking
his unprecedented step because be
learned from four Jurors In the beei
| inQuirv of 1908 that the Government had
called il of when in the minds OF the
| jurors there was enough evidence to
| Indict: that the former Grand Jurv was
also impanelled before Judge Iandis
and was in a sense his Grand jury and