Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-03-27

That after the old beef pool dissolv-
ed in 1909 the packers held secret
meetings at each others homes.
That the National ~ king comT---j
since It's organization in 1903 has
been used as the Clearing House for
the alleged combination.
That the packers adopted test
cost and margin system which was
used in the purchase of cattle and Tho
sale Of fresh meat.
That the allowances made for by
products IN figuring the test cost were
inadequate and the cost" used by the
. packers was fictitious and higher than
the actual cost
That the representatives, Of the dif-
/ ferent companies in New York, Bos-
ton and other eastern cities eNchang-
ed Information IN regard to prices and
shipments and telegraphed the figures
TO their superiors In Chicago.
That the violation Of the Sherman
law by the packers has been contin.
uous and practically uninterrupted
since lS9S.
A chronological history Of the gov
ernments investigation and prosecu.
tion Of the men alleged to have con.
troled the fresh meat industry OF The
country is as follows
| July ]. I9o3-lnjunction Issued by
lJudge Grosscup restraining the pack.
ers from entering into combination
Feb 90, Investigation Of al
legged combination begun.
July l. 1906 Sixteen packers and
7 four corporations ind.ted.
Dec. u. l90j-Cases called for trial.
March 21 19o6-Judge Humphreys
renders the immunity bath freeing
the indicted packers
Dec. 20. lsOS-investigation taken
up by federal grand jury but soon dis
continued without indictments being
returned
Dec. Is. s09-Investipation resum-
ed hy the federal grand jury
/ March p. l9l0-mdgtments re-
turned against the National Packing
company and ten subsidiary concerns
and bill in equity filed asking that the
National Packing company be dis
solved
Juno "A, 1910 Indictments against
tn, National Packing company quash-
ed by Judge Lands ana special
! euond jury called To renew the in
/ yestgation.
! July "a, 19l0-Spccial grand jury
! mpauclled and inquiry begun
| Aug. II, Thomas c. Lee.
manager of the dressed beef sales de-
! 'partmcnt of Armour and company in
dictcd for perjury and Alfred r.. Ur-
ion, chief counsel for the company
and three employees charged with des-
uoyiug stcnographers' notebooks con
tanning important information desired
by the government
i Aug, Is. lgl0-Attoruey Urion dis
charged with "a reprimaud and the
other respondents held for further
hearing
II Sept u. indictments return.
ed charging ten packers with conspir.
acy i'm maintaining combination IL
Testraint Of trade.
Il Dec 6. lgll--Trial OF the ten pack
ers begun before Judge Carpenter
i The trial was one Of the Longest
J criminal trials i'm he history Of tn,
= federal courts 1t began December
7 10. The first witness was called bl
| the government December 2S. IN,
| government put ~ witnesses on tn,
! stand and introduced lass document,
| in evidence The record OF the case
| contains &. 900. .O00 words.
lt is estimated that the trial cost
the packers S50O.0O and the govern.
ment about 100000
The first witness called by the gov.
| crrment was Albert II. Nceder. the
dean Of counsel FOR the packers and
personal legal advisor of the late Gus
a,us F swift. founder Of Swift and
| company. lie gave graphic des-
| cripiun OF the old packers poo
which met every Tuesday afternoon
prior 10 1912 and gave the details OF
the method by which the fresh meat
| business OF the country was CONTROL.
| ed. lie declared that no attempt wa.
| made to fix prices and divide terri.
! tory after the old packers pool wa.
/ dissolved In 1902 He also told OF the
attempt of the Armour. Swift and
Morris interests TO combine the pack
| ing industry into a billion dollar cor.
| poration and how the plan was drop.
| ped because of the inability Of il.
| promoters to finance II.
| Nanr1V atgrx witness gallad bss tha
| government in the trial was either an