New-York tribune., 1912-01-03
OLD POOL MEMBERS
IN PACKERS NEW PLAN
Armour's Former Manager Re-
flutes Testimony of Veeder,
Trusts" Representative.
PRICES FIXED AT MEETINGS
First Documentary Evidence on
Point-Witness Testifies All
Traces of Agreements
Destroyed.

Chicago. Jan 2.-Documentary evidence
that the price of meat was fixed and the
business apportioned on a non-competitive
basis by the packers al their weekly meet
ings was introduced by the government to-
day at the trial of tho ten Chicago packers
before United States District Judge Carpen-
ter
Special Counsel Pierce Butler read several
letters received by w ID. Miles manager of
the Armour Packing Company, Kansas
City, in June, 1897, in which the amounts
of beef to be shipped 10 certain Eastern
markets were stated and the price to be
charged. based ON margin of 80 cents on
the uniform test cost estimate used by the
packers. was named.
The letters also fatty refuted the state
ment Of Henry veeder on the witness stand
that no meetings OF the packers TO fix
prices and apportion business were held be-
tween April, 1897, and January, 1898, when
statistical bureau was maintained to
compile records of meat shipped and prices
obtained at different points Miles. who sew
cred his connection with the Armour in
terests in 1908, will, It is said, be one of the
star witnesses 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
Boston; At this point it was agreed that
each party in interest will not snip durlns
the current week in excess or MS proper !,
tion Of total shipment OF one me eTnTa
OF weekly shipments TO Boston TOT tne
eight weeks ending June %, 1885. IL VIZ VIZ
also agreed that parties in interest WouiI
endeavor to obtain FOR the current "eSh
margins Of 30 cents. -,
Pittsburgh 1t was agreed that each
party in interest would not snlp III eAfJSo SLI,o
of % per cent Of the average weekly snip 70
ment for the four weeks ending June L.
1897
The letter contained directions limiting
the total shipments for the week OF June
%. 1897. to 22277. .O2s pounds Of fresh meat
OF which two million pounds went TO DVS-
ton and 1892 TO Pittsburgh.
Several similar letters were introduced oy
the government and il was pointed out thaI
they were all unsigned and in the form
Henry Vceder testified the packers letters
were written.
Government Springs Surprise
After Butler had questioned Henry Vecder,
secTetary of the packers pools regarding
the details Of the combinations from May
1898. TO July I, 1902 when the witness sald
che last fresh meat pool dissolved and ne
severed his connection with the packers the
government attorney sprang surprise on
The defendants by reading the letters ana
offering them in evidence.
Does the reading Of these letters refresh
YOUR memory in regard 10 an arrange
men, at that time covering the shipment or
heef and the fixing OF the margin price
a~ke6 AR. Eutler.
no: although do not question the genu-
ineness OF these letters" said the witness
they Indicate that if there was an ar
ransclnent it was of a temporary charac-
for
Were any packers meetings held be-
tween April. 1902, and March. 1903. at when
tho supply of fresh meat was discussed?
~Not to my knowledge" replied the
witness.
Did yoa ever know OF any packers
meetings held on the eighth floor OF the
Counsel,uan Building during this periOd?'
Yes: [ believe there were meetings held
there. but am not sure of the date
We're they in regard to the supply and
price of meat?"
Not in regard 10 this country. They had
TO do with foreign trade. as l remember.
Forty cents hundred pounds. was the
penalty assessed against members Of the
old packers pool who overshipped their
allotment into any particular territory,
and the amount was distributed among
the members Disseminated against The
amounts were paid by check every week
Immediately after the meetings at which
the packers reviewed the shipments Of the
preceding week
This information regarding the inside
workings OF the pool in the period be-