The Sentinel=record., 1912-01-03
EVIDENCE IN
 PACKER CASE
GOVERNMENT PRODUCES Docu. MENTs TO SHOW EXISTENCE
 OF POOL FOR FRESH MEATS.
Letters Introduced to Show That There Was No Competition in the Arrangement Entered Into
 by Packers.

Chicago, Jan. 2.-Documeltary ey- idence that the price of meat Wac fixed and the business apportioned oll d non-competitive basis by the pack CTS at their weekly meetings, was in- troduced by the government today al the trial of the ten Chicago packers before federal Judge Carpenter.
 Special counsel, Pierce Butler reaa several letters received by W b. Miles, manager of the Armour Pack ing Company at Kansas City, in June, 1897, in which the amounts of beef to be shipped to certain eastern mar kets were given and the price to be charged, based on margin of fifty used by the packers was aamed.
 The letters also flalty refute the statement of Henry yeeder on the witness stand that no meetings of the packers to fix prices and appor. tion business were held between Ap- Til. 1897 and January, 1898, when.. d statistical bureau was maintained to compile records of meat shipped and prices obtained at different po'nts and Miles who severed his connection with the Armour interests in 1903, will. 1t is said, be one of the star wit ,,eeses for the government.
 One of the letters, dated June ~, 1897. read in part:
 Dear Sir: This afternoon it was agreed that each party will not ship during the current week in excess Of shipments agreed upcn for last week.
 'sBoston--At this point 1t was agreed that each party in Interest will not ship during the current week in excess Of his proportion of a to- tai shipment of 100 cars, basing such proportion on the average wee'klr shipments to Boston for the eight weeks ending June z6, 1897. It was also agreed that parties in interes. would endeayor to obta,a for the current week margins of fifty cents.
 'sPittsburg-It was agreed that each party in interest would not ship In excess Of 90 per cent of the aver. age weekly shipment for the four weeks ending June F, 1S97'
 Several similar letters were in troduced by the government and il was pointed out that they were all unsigned and in the form Henry C. Veeder testified the packers letters were written.
 After Attorney Butler had question ed Henry Veeder, secretary of the packers pools regarding details on the combination from May, 1893 to July 1, 1902, when the witness said the last fresh meat pool dissolved and he severed his connection with the packers, the government attorney sprang a surprise on the defendants by reading the letters and offering them in evidence.
 Does the reading of these letters refresh your memory in regard to an arrangement at that time covering the shipment of beef and the fixing oi the margin price?' asked Attorney Butler
 No, although don't question the genulneness of these letters" said the witness. sThey indicate that il there was an arrangement, it was of temporary character"
 ''Were many packers meetings held between April, 1902 and March l90o at which the supply of fresh meat was discussed?"
 Not to my knowledge," replied m witness.
 Did you ever know of any pack ers' meetings held c1 the eighth floor of the Counselman building, during this period?"
 q believe there was a meeting but I'm not sure of the dates."
 "Were they in regard <o the sup ply and price of meat?"
 Not in regard to this country. They had to do with foreign tsade as I remember'
 Henry veeder was on the stand when court adjourned and he will re- sume his story tomorrow mofning.
 n the afternoon session the ques- tioning of Mir. Veeder continued. He testified that no meetings of the combine were held between 1896 and lsss