The Washington times., 1918-10-16
DISMISS CHARGES
AGAINST PACKER

Because in some instances it was
not conclusively shown that Wilson
d Co.. Inc, knowingly and willfully"
supplied unfit meat for army and
navy camps, and in other instances il
was not conclusively shown that the
meat was actually unfit for human
consumption" the Federal Trade Com
mission has dismissed the case against
that nrm.
The complaint was lodged with the
commission on March 1 last, and the
investigation resulted in such a prima
facie showing that the commission
was required to issue a formal COM
PLANT. Seven charges were flied.
The commission ruled in favor OF
Wilson & Co. in five OF the seven
charges. One OF the charges alleged
that a lot of beef sold to the Pelham
Bay naval training citation was re-
3ected because it did not fulfill the
navy specifications, but as it was not
conclusively shown that IL was actu-
ally unit for human consumption. the
commission ruled in favor OF Wilson
& Co. Another charge involved the
sale of 100000 pounds OF cured ham
TO the Navy Department through the
provisioning depot at Brooklyn. A
largo portion was rejected because It
was merely moldy, and while 1t did
not fulfill the rigid tests OF the navy.
1t was not shown TO be unfit for
human consumption.
There was also evidence that some
OF these hams were bone sour and
meat sour, a condition which rem
dered them unfit for human consump-
ton, but as the element OF willfulness
upon the part OF the vender was not
established. the commission found
Tor the respondent. Other charges
involved dressed chickens offered for
sale at Camp Travis, Texas. and veal
sold to the same camp, but as there
was an element of doubt the commits
sion ruled in favor of the company.
Thomas z. Wilson, president Of
wilson & Co., made the following
statement last night concerning the
Federal Trade Commissions exonera- |
ton Of his concern:
Full details Of the Federal Trade /,
Commissions decision have not yet /
reached me, but we have never had |
the slightest doubt but that we would I
De completely exonerated. The mo-
ment the charges were made person !
ally asked the commission for an i'm /
mediate hearing and investigation. /
The hearings were ably and fairly
conducted by the commission. They
certainly Investigated every charge
against US in the most searching way
and left no avenue OF possible evidence
unnoticed. On our part I believe I am
right in saying that not only did wn
present all the evidence we had in our /
own defense. but that we freely Of
fered every available bit OF infor-
nation to the commission which .
would enable US to sift the charges to
the bottom and arrive at a definite
final decision. This decision coming
at this time will strengthen the faith 1
OF the public in the ability and in
tegrity OF those officials of the army !,
and navy whose duty It is to purchase
food supplies for our forces as well as
I hope in the carefulness and exact
ness with which Wilson & Co. is and
has been carrying out its enormous
tasks in providing the meats and meat
food products which the Government
requires of Il. The eXoneration is
gratifying to US even though il was
fully anticipated. I believe those Of
fcials OF the commission who directly
participated in the hearings will say
that our side Of the case was conduct
ed as rigidly and impartially as was
theirs" II