Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-03
NATIONS BUSINESS DIVIDED
Documents Are Secured from Former
Manager for Armour.
MEETINGS HELD DURING 1897
Arrangements Not Suspended During
Time of Statistical Bureau.
WITNESS MEMORY NO BETTER
Henry Necder, whose Previous Tes-
timOny IL Disproven, Asserts
Arrangements In 1907
Were Temporary.

CHICAGO, Jan. 2-Documentary evi-
dence that the price OF meat was fixed
and the business apportioned on a nom
competitive basis by the packers at their
weekly meetings, was introduced by the
government today at tho trial of the
ten Chicago packers bemore United States
District Judge George A. Carpenter.
Special Counsel Pierce Butler read
several letters received by w. d. Miles,
manager of the Armour Packing COM
pany OF Kansas City. in June, 1897, in
which tho amounts OF beef to be shipped
to certain eastern markets were given
and the price to be charged based on a
margin of 30 cents on the uniform test
cost estimate used by the packers was
named.
The letters which we're obtained from
w. u. Miles. former manager OF the
Armour Packing company, also fatty re-
futed the statement OF Henry Veeder on
the witness stand that no meetings OF
the packers 20 fix prices and apporuon
business were held between April. 1897,
and January, 1898, when q statistical
bureau was maintained to compile
records of meat shipped and prices OBJ
talned at different points.
Miles, who severed his connection with
the Armour interests In 1908. will, it is
said, be one OF the star witnesses for
the government
Letter Gives Agreement.
one Of the letters, dated June 20, 1897,
read in part!
Dear Sir: This afternoon II was
agreed that each party will not ship
during the current week IN excess Of
shipments agreed upon for last week.
"Boston-Att bis point it was agreed
that each party in interest will not ship
during the current week in excess of his
proportion OF total shipment of 100
cars, baslng such proportion on the aver
age weekly shipments to Boston for the
eight weeks ending June 26, 1897.
1T also was agreed that parties in
interest would endeavor to obtain for the
current week margins of so cents.
'Pittsburgh--lt was agreed that each
tParty aitt.iaterest-,vould not shipsin excess
OF no per cent of the average weekly
shipment for the four weeks ending
June l2. 1891"
The letter contained directions limiting
the total shipments for the week of June
20, 1897, to 22,27 ,02S pounds Of fresh meat,
OF which 100000 went to oBston and
7i2 .el2. TO Pittsburgh. Several similar let
ters were introduced by the government
and Il was pointed out hat they were
all unsigned and in the form In which
Henry Veeder testified the packers let
ters were written.
Defendants Surprised.
After Attorney Butler had questioned
Henry Veeder. secretary Of the packers
pools, concerning the details of the COM
binatIon from May 1898, to July ]. 1902,
when the witness said the last fresh
meat pool dissolved and he severed his
connection with the packers, the govern
ment attorney sprang a surprise on the
defendants by reading the letters and
offering them in evidence.
Veeder had previously testified that the
packers held no meeting during the
existence of the statistical bureau from
April, 1897, to January, 1895.
"Does the reading OF these letters
refresh your memory In regard to an
arrangements at that time covering the
shipment Of beef and the fixing OF the
marlxin price?" asked Attorney Butler
"No, although l do not question the
Renuineness OF these letters2' the wit
ness said, "They Indicate that IL there
was an arrangement It was of tempo
rary character
"Were any packers meetings held
between April, 1902 and March, 1903. at
which the supply of fresh meat was dis
cussed2'
mot to my knowledge" the witness
replied.
"Did YOU ever know OF any packers
meetings held on the eighth floor of the
Counselmnn building during this period?'
yes / believe there were meetings held
there but / am not sure of the date
Were they In regard 10 the supply
and price Of meat?"
mot in regard to this country. They
had 10 do with foreign trade as remem-
Der IT,"
Henry Veeder was on the stand when
court adjourned, and he win resume his
story tomorrow morning.
Earth TremOrs In Illinois.