Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-01-28
Former InquiSitors Insist
on Investigation, So
Probe Is Piled
THREATS EFFECTIVE
United States Government
Forced to Make Inquiry
Into Combine
Especial &c The Herald.I

efnmenI Was COlupGllGu Wy LhO SA-
~ forts of four members of the fed
eral grand jury of 1908, wrich in
vestigated the meat scandals of Chi
coga, to reopen the investigation now
pending before Judge Lands here, was
made known today.
That these four grand jurors were
SO persistent in their attacks on the
trust and took advantage of the pop
ular protest at the high cost of nv
ing to renew their appeals to the fed
eral government also became known
today for the first time.
Wade Ellis, assistant attorney gen
eral, who passed the day In Chlcago'
denied there was any trouble between
the government officials concerning the
present investigation or that District
ATTORNEY Sims would conduct the case.
He refused to discuss the govern
ment's reasons for its long delay in at
tacking the combine.
Concerning the inception of the pres
ent action it is said there would have
been none had the four dissatisfied
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
TlOuRnt II was Lllll6 IOI IuS SVNCAh-
ment to begin another inquiry.
Minority Report
The report of the four jurors al
legged that enough evidence was sub
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 prosecution.
They also said if the investigation
was not renewed Immediately they
would make a statement to the public
setting forth their theory of why the
prosecution had been dropped.
Following the jurors complaint,
Pudge Landis is said to have made
the investigation that resulted in the
present action being started.
Judge Landis, it is said, got in touch
with the evidence submitted to the
1908 grand jury and he is determined
that the present action 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:
with the United States district at
tornev and his assistants, and in
call upon Judge Lands, whom [ have
known pleasantly for many years
There is no friction whatever in the
beef inquiry.
Has Been Busy
1.-THE department of justice has been
at work for five or six months IN
vestigating developments of the fresh
meat industry since the last action oy
the government, and especially the
relation of the situation to the prices
of food and products, with a view to
ascertaining whether a cause of ac-
tiOn now exists.
1.-THE investigation will be conducted
under the antitrust statute and may
be either civil or criminal
proceedings now in progress before
the federal grand jury are in line with
this investigation. Ordinarily cases
presented to the grand jury for trial
courts are wholly within the routine
duties of the United States district
attorney. Where, however, the sub
iect of inquiry affects the country at
large and especially where it involves
the complaint Of a violation of the
antitrust statute having a more than
local effect the attorney general eX-
ercjses a special supervision. He is
particularly charged by the law with
the enforcement of this act, and my
duties in this behalf are also fixed by
statute under his direction.
"There will be no change in the pres
ent instance. Mr.. Sims, in whom the
attorney general has entire confidence,
will present his own testimony to the
grand jury. After this testimony is
in have no doubt the grand jury will
do it's full duty, both to the govern
ment and to those against whom such
testimony may be adduced.
81 expect to keep in touch with the
inquiry, to come to Chicago whenever
it may seem necessary to participate,
either now or later, in any way that
shall seem advisable"
Opinion of Dealers
In the opinion of retail butchers in
Chicago the action which the govern
ment is expected to take against the
beef trust, in the event of indictment,
will have little effect on prices, and
retailers say the packers are winlzing
n at the investigation and appear cock
n sure of triumph.
ut is impossible to convict the
trust" said a leading retailer tonight,
because it's ramihcations are SO numer-
GUS and its manipulation OF the mar
ket so covert that Uncle Sam cannot
get possession of evidence necessary
TO convict.
"The Offering of the books of the
corporations for perusal of grand jur-
ors can achieve nothing, for the books
II of the meat company afford no real
insight into it's methods. Every or
ganization of this character, especial
ly where it is anticipating legal at
tack, keeps two sets of books-one for
inspectors and grand jurors and the
other for its own use.
Cannot Convict
"But granting that the beef trust is
indicted, which is quite doubtful, it is
4 difficult to conceive its ultimate con-
viction.
"The average consumer blames the
retailer for current high prices. The
consumer does not realize that the
retaiIer is utterly at the mercy of the
iobbers and packing houses, and in
many instances the success of the re-
tailers business depends on his rec
ognition of the 'unwritten laws of the
trust-his subservience to the trusts
III CContinued on Page Threei