New Britain herald., 1918-02-28
Federal Trade Commission Seeks
 Laws Enabling It to Examine Papers Protected by Courts
AMENDMENT TO ESPIONAGE
 ACT PROPOSED BY HENEY
Papers Held by yecdcr, Counsel for Big Meat Houses, Used in~Commls- sion of FeIonieS Investigator Claims-Eyidcnoe Already Gath~ cred Proves Conspiracy to Control Country, Is Allegation.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-Special and speedy legislation to lay bare the con- . fidential files of the great meat pack CTS and disclose what government 1n- vestigators believe will show plans to take complete control of the meat 1n- dustry, was asked of congress today bv the federal trade commission
 On recommendation of Francis Heney special counsel conducting tho commissions investigation, who has been restrained by court orders from taking further papers and also from using those already seized by bis agents. the commission laid the facts before congress and asked for action,
 Charging that Henry Veeder, coun- ss sel for the packers, still is the cus- todian of many papers which have been used as inStrumentalltleS in the committing of felonies, MT. Heney asked for a supplement to the espion- age law to facilitate the governments inquiry into the industry
 - After Federal Judge Landis of Chi cago had issued a search warrant au7 thorizing the seizure of important documents in the possession of Mr. veeder, the federal circuit court of appeals restrained a marshal from re- moving or examining any of the papers in Veeder's vault and further from examining or in any way using Fpapers already seized by the govern" ment.
 Specifically MT. Heney asked that congress amend or supplement- the espionage act so that the decision of a judge who issues a search war; rant shall be conclusive upon ques" ton of the existence of probable cause, and that a summary proceeding already provided by the statute for the determination of the question ot whether the property seized under the writ shall likewise be conclusive for the purpose of only enabling thu court to retain such property in tha custody of the law until the purpose of it's seizure shall have been served. ' Court Order Blocked Exposure.
 The action of the appellate court in issuing the stay, said MT. Henry, prevented the government from even examining papers already in it's pos session, and which a federal dlStrIc [ court had found had been used ! the means of committing felon1es by Swift & O., and other corporations.
 In it's letter to Vice President Mar shall, as president of the senate, the commission described this question ss to be of such vital importance to it's work and possibly the work of other departments of the government as to require it's calling the matter to the attention of congress.
 Tn his letter, MT. Honey declared Mir Veeder, at the beef trust trial in 1912, after the statute of limita- lions had expired, had testified that for many years his office was the clearing house for the five big pack CTS in criminal conspiracy which thev maintained for the fixing oi prices and control of the meat indus try.
 The evidence which we have gathered in the present inVestiga tion." continued MT. Heney, strong Iy tends to prove that this conspiracy with some slight modification to it scope and purpose, has continued Il existence ever since and is still active and Veeder is custodian of man, papers which have been used in th' . pursuance thereof as instrumental ties in the commission of felonies.
 The Swift, Armor, Morris, Wilsol and Cudahy packing companies ar specifically mentioned in the alleged roro mission of felonieS.