Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-10
CHICAGO CONCERNS CALLED UP
ON BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
FOR INFORMATION.
INVESTIGATION MAY RESULT
IN RENEWED PROSECUTION
Packers Said to Control Al Meats
Coming From South American Pro-
dueins countries-said to Have
Bought Up All Transportation Faeil-
ities-ReIuetant to Give Facts.

Washington. Jan. 10.-A demand on
the Chicago packers to disclose all In
formation in their possession showing
whether they control the shipment OF
meats from South America was made
by Attorney General McReynolds.
This is the first aggressive move
made by the department of justice in an
investigation which may result in a
new prosecution of the packers for vio-
lation of the Sherman antitrust law.
state to the department of Justice
the amount Of refrigeration space they
nave contracted to control in steamers
plying between the United States and
Argentina and other South American
countries.
With this action directed at the beef
magnates themselves the attorney gen.
eral has signified his intention to go to
the bottom of the charges that the
packers quietly and unobtrusively have
bought UP practically all meat trans
portation facilities in the ocean carry
ing trade. II this be true. the packers
are in a position to nullify the removal
Of the tariff from meats by the newly
enacted tariff law.
Argentina Big Source Of Supply.
The Argentina is the chief source Of
the United States foreign meat supply.
With free trade in this necessity Of life
the Wilson administration expected a
vast importation Of cheaper meats
would result in reducing the cost of the
o.
In preparation for the expected
chief Of the bureau Of animal industry.
what measures Of inspection It would
the United States.
But about the time the tariff law
went into effect the government was
informed that the Chicago packers con-
trolled the South American meat ship
ping situation. Win such domination
of the refrigeration ships The packers
could shut out all competition. They
could limit the amount of meat Inn
ported from the Argentine ana they
would own all that was allowed to be
imported.
Armour Rebuffed by Wilson.
from Europe about the time the depart.
ment of Justice initiated Its investiga.
ton of these charges he was quoted In
New York newspapers as asserting that
the government could 20 to blazes," or
words to similar. il not stronger, eject.
Mr.. Armour recently made O hurried
trip to Washington to see President
Wilson for the purpose, It IL believed.
of explaining that he never made the
statement quoted, and Of explaining the
South American transportation stu.
alton.
The president declined to see him.
excusing himself on the ground that he
received no callers on cabinet meeting
days. Mr.. Armour Immediately re-.
turned to Chicago and has not renewed
his effort to see the president.
The department Of Justice first called
upon the steamship lines to disclose
the amount Of refrigeration space in
their vessels for which the packers had
contracted.
Carriers Reluctant to Give Facts.
The carriers were reluctant to di.
vulge this information, and such data
as were obtained the attorney general
deemed unsatisfactory. It is for that
reason that he turned to the packers
for the information he desires,
II the packers refuse to comply With
the demand of the department drastic
steps will be taken. As the Sherman
law applies to foreign as well az inter-
state commerce It would be possible for
the government to prosecute the pack.
ers on charges of restraining trade and
a monopoly in South Amert-
can meats.