Evening star., 1918-02-28
ASKS LAW TO BARE
FILES OF PACKERS
Federal Trade Commission
Wishes to Reveal Alleged
Conspiracy" of Concerns.
ACTION NOW RESTRAINED

Special and speedy legislation to lay
bare the confidential files of the great
meat packers and disclose what gov
ernment investigators believe will show
plans to take complete control of the
meat industry. was asked of Congress
today by the. Federal Trade Commission.
On recommendation of Francis J.
Heney, special counsel conducting the
commissions investigation. who has
been restrained by court orders from
taking further papers. and also from
using those already seized by his
agents. the commission laid the facts
before Congress and asked for action.
Asks Espionage Law Supplement.
Charging that Henry Veeder, counsel
for the packers, "is still the custodian
of many papers which have been used
as instrumentalities in the commission
of felonies," Mr.. HeRey asked for sup
plement to the espionage law to facih-
tate the governments inquiry into the
industry.
After Federal Judge Landis of Chi
cago had issued a search warrant au-
thorizing the seizure of important docu-
ments in the possession of Mr.. Needer,
the federal circuit court of appeals re-
strained a marshal from removing or
examining any of the papers in Veeder's
vault and further from examining or
in any way using papers already selZed
by the government.
Specific Request.
Specifically Mr. Heney asked that
Congress amend or supplement the es-
pionage act SO that the decision Of
judge who issues search warrant shall
be conclusive upon the question of the
summary proceeding already provided
by the statute for the determination OF
the question of whether the property
seized under the writ was used for the
commission of felony shall likewise
be conclusive for the purpose only of
enabling the court to retain such prop
erty in the custody of the law until the
purpose for its seizure shall have been
served"
The action of the appellate court in
issuing the stay. said Mr.. Heney, pre-
vented the government from even ex-
amining paper already in it's posses
had found had been used las a means
of committing felonies by Swift & Co.
and other corporations
Of "Vital Importance"
In it's letter to Vice President Mar
shall. as President of the Senate, the
Federal Trade Commission described
this question ITO be OF such vftaa sfsf,-
portance to it's work. and possibly the
work OF other departments OF the gov
ernment. as to require it's calling the,
matter to the attention Of Congress"
Counsel Heney in his letter declared
that Mr.. Veeder at the beef trust trial
in 1912. after the statute of limitations
had expired, had testified that for many
years his office was the/clearing house
for the five big packers in criminal
conspiracy which they maintained for
the fixing of prices and the control of
the meat industry.
The evidence which we have gath
cred in the present investigation" con-
tended Mr.. Heney. strongly tends to
prove that this conspiracy. with some
slight modifica tion to its scope and pur-
pose. has continued in existence ever
since. and is still active. and that
Veeder still is the custodian of many
papers which have been used in the
pursuance thereof as instrumentalities
in the commission of felonies."
The Swift, Armour, Morris, Wilson
and Cudahy packing companies are spe-
cifically mentioned in the alleged com
mission of felonies.'