The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22
On Day Investigator Ap-
peared, 81, ,480 Shares
Were Divided
ALL REPRESENTED
ON RAILWAY BOARD
Packers Had Big Influence
on Chicago Real Es-
tate Market
(By Associated Press.)

=
Washington, Dec. Redistribu-
tion Of share holdings Of the Chicago
stockyards company was begun as
soon as the managers got wind or
the federal trade commissions COM
ing investigation.
1t was brought out In testimony
before the commission today that the
same day federal investigator ap-
peared S4.4S0 shares were divided I'M
to seventeen portions.
Evidence to show that persons
connected with all the large meat
packers are represented on the board
OF directors OF the Chicago Junction
railways company. operating the
terminal railroads OF the Chicago
stoclEyards, was antr0duCed.
Frederick w. Croll, treasurer Of
Armour and company. recalled TO the
stand today, testified also that the
influence OF the packers extended to
the real estate situation in Chicago.
Attorney Heney said that directors
Spoor, Thayeri and fitzgerald OF the
Chicago Junction railways company,
held the central manufacturing dis
.trict property, where many large
firms are located, as trustees for the
Chicago Junction Railways and I'm
ion Stochyards company.
CrolI was asked whether the Ar
mour books showed all the compan-
les in which the firm was interested.
He said they did.
Mr.. Heney read list OF stock
yards in which Armour and company
were interested, the list including the
yards at Louisville, Denver, Fort
Worth, Jacksonville, Jersey City,
Pittsburgh, Sioux City. st. Paul. st.
Louis, Portland. Ore. and Toronto,
Can.
Yesterdays Session.
Some idea Of the ramihcations Of
the inquiry was given yesterday when
Frederick w. Croll. treasurer Of
Armour & Co, was questioned by
Francis ]. Heney, special counsel,
who sought to develop the extent Of
the packers control of the market
ing OF cattle and the distribution Of
meat products as well as ownership
OF yards at st. Paul and Kansas City.
Croll testified that neither j. Ogden
of which j. Ogden Armour owns 20
per cent, had any interest in the
Kansas City yards.
did any Of the big packers have a
plant at st. Paul before Armour a
Co, began building their plant
there? asked Heney.
Yes, Swift and company" replied
Croll.
aDid Armour and company receive
q bonus for going there"2
"a citizens committee agreed to
do something, but do not know
what they have done, nor what the
total amount was TO be-.
Was 1t as much as $500, ,000?'
II cannot say"
''Was 1t more than 800. .0002s
Il venture to say it was
do you know IL, after this agree
ment was made with the st. Paul
citizens committee, any agreement
was made with Swift to secure part
ownership OF the st. Paul yards?'
II do not"
''Was any agreement made for part
control Of the Drovers' bank 2"
II do not know, the entire matter
was handled by @. B. Ribins, vice
president of Armour and company"
Croll was not questioned further.
From other witnesses an effort will
be made to ascertain whether Ar
mour and Swift entered into any un-
regarding the meat
packing industry at st. Paul.
Company Owns Stock.
In organizing the Chicago Stock
yards company, j. Ogden Armour be-
came the possessor OF 1880 shares
according to testimony, but like all
the other shareholders. his identity
was concealed through the use Of
share warrants, payable to bearer.
CrolI said Mr.. Armour now had turn
ed I'm his stock to Armour and COM
pany in order that the eight other
OF that concern, all Of
them members OF the Armour FAM
ilys might benefit. Ownership Of the
stock however is Jumped with other
assets.
Details Of the methods used by Mr..
Armour and +. III. Prince Of Boston,
IN obtaining control Of the Junction
railroads company necessary pre-
liminary TO the formation OF the new
were brought out In letters
obtained by the commissions inves-
dgat0rs.
In a letter to Armour. Prince
wrote:
II propose to have the guarantees /
stock listed on the stock exchange !
and the present stock win be stricken I
from the list. We shall do our best /
then to deprecate the value Of the 4
tcontinued On pags Cd