The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-30
PACKERS DIVIDE
UNITED STATES
Young Veeder Tells Story OF
Combination to Control
Meat Business
ADMITS DETAILS OF
COMPLETE SYSTEM
Swift Conceived Idea and
All in Agreement Are
Known by Letters,
No Names Used

CHICAGO. Dec. 29.--Henry Veeders
son Of the lawyer who created tho
beef trust and worked out tho bii-
lion dollar combine scheme anda him.
self the little car in control OF the
old pool by which the packers gov
erned prices. supply and demand, ioi-
lowed his father on tho witness stand
today, as a witness against his own
clients and unfolded 8. story OF DIE
business intribues which reads ike =
modern novel.
With the testimony Of the younger
Veeder the ten indicted packers VIII
have openly admitted all the details OF
the most fragrant and complete sys-
TEN for sitting competition ever told.
and will admit these things to sup
mort their contention that about 1sos
they aw the error OF the system ana
completely abandoned 1t.
Swift Conceives Idea.
The information secured by ths gov
eminent from the yocnger Veeder, OF
interest to any man who ever paid
butchers bin, showed:
That Gustayus i. Swift. conceived
the idea of pooling the interests OF
the packers and invited the Armour
Packing Company. Cudahy, Morris
and Hammond interests to n con-
ference at which the pool was or
, ganized, IA system Of identical test
costs evolved and forfeits posted ~
assure that all abided by the viii OF
the pool.
That at the first meeting offices
were rented and Henry Needer hired
as secretary-he to caTr~ out the de-
craes of the pool as decided by oai-
lot, aliot business and prices and set
tie disputes. including the .iriing OF
any of the miilionafres who broke
| faith.
Packers are Lsttered.
That there We're no signs on the
doors of the meeting room. that it was
known only at "P. Q. Box 247"--thts
box TO which its mail was addressed,
that It's communications were unsign-
cd and that no marks identified its
| mail. That the packers Were referred
to as a." 3D." etc, each one being
given a letter.
That each of the six interest sent
| to Feeder eterv Monday morning, two
| reports, one showing everyaspound Of
meat shipped from the slaughter
houses and its destination and the
f, other indicating the prices received
| for every car of beef sold up to the
| previous Saturday or Sunday NIGHT.
! That Needer from these reports cons
| piled reports or selling prices. costs,
I profits, etc. for his EMPLOYERS
! That Gustavus F. Swift, Edward
| Morris and representatives of the
| Armour and other interests met ev-
cry Tuesday afternoon and decided
| on the amount OF business and cost
marrying t. be allowed to each. and
/ that these figures were mailed - all
| interests by veeaer Tuesday night
United States Divided Up.
Needer took the stand Ill at ease
! In marked contrast to the bland and
| urbane poise of his venerable father.
He told how the United States had
been divided into territories lettered
! from "A" to "B.' with the Eastern
! part Of the country designated an
a" Chicago as &C." and SO on down
/ thu list
He explained that in Ali their deal
ings the packers held the same fnan-
| cial relations TO each other az the
| voh,me of their shipments bore to
each other. and that the old pool
| agreed only as to the trade in fresh
! beef He said that after one year
the percentages we're rearranEed an
result of row between the pack
ers. and that the new basis continued
until 1896,
AT the close of the session this
| evening. Judge Carpenter adjourned
court FOR the New Years holidays
until Tuesday morning. At that tims
Henry Veeder VIII resume the stand,