Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-29
PACKERS CONTROL IN
MANY DIRECTIONS IS
ALLEGED BY HENEY
RamifiCationS Extended to
Street Railways Banks and
to the Tin InduStry-Enemy
Congressman Are Punished

WASHINGTON, jan 27.-Conhdential
reports on the attitude of congressman
toward legislation for an inquiry into
the livestock and packing industry, talk
en- from the secret files of big packing
concerns, were read today into the rec
ords of the federal trade commissions
meat packing investigation.
In addition to the continued recital of
the efforts made by the packers to fore
stall affirmative action by congress in
1916 on the Borland resolution for an in
quiry, the commission was given furth-
er indication of the ramifications of the
packers financial control which was
said by Francis j. Heney, special "coun-
sci, to extend to the street railway lines
of Kansas City, to banks throughout
the country and to the tin industry. Mr..
Heney said further evidence along this
line would be offered next week.
Alleged political retribution visited
on congressman inimical to the packers
interests also will be one of the major
subjects taken up next week, according
to Mr.. Heney, who announced that he
would offer evidence designed to show
that one representative was defeated
with the aid of the packers after he made
a fight for an investigation of their bust
ness. "Insidious" methods of endeavor-
ing TO influence congressman through
business for their law firms and by APP
pealing to their political welfare will
be developed, Mr.. Heney told the COM
mission.
After it had been disclosed today that
in 1916 r. c. McManus, of counsel for
Swift and company, made report to the
company giving n resume of a complaint
filed with the commission and which was
confidential under the commissions
rules, notices were posted in the COM
mission building that hereafter passes
from heads of departments will be re-
quired for all persons, even employees,
who enter the building outside of work
ing hours. When the MeManus report
was read, Mr.. Heney protested that the
practice of leaving the office doors I'M
locked offered a chance for "untortu-
nate" happenings and said he had sever
al times found an attorney for the pack
ers alone in his Office when he returned
there.
1t appeared from the evidence today
that the packers received advance in
formation of a postponement of action
on the Borland resolution by the house
judiciary subcommittee.
Close watch was kept on the views
of congressman on the Borland resolu-
ton by agents of the packers in Wash
ington, their reports usually being
cautiously devised so that Identities
were indicated only by initial or state.
Especial attention was given to Repre-
sentative Gard, of Ohio, and Represer-
tatiYe Morgan, of Oklahoma, from whom
opposition was feared. Opposition 70
the Borland resolution, including flood
of kilograms inspired by the packers,
was financed, according to the evil
dence, by a fund of $4,000 raised on a
basis among the Armour
Swift, Morris, Cudahy and Sulzberger or
Wilson firms.
This percentage received the close
attention of the commission who were
told by Mr.. Heney that it was continu-
alton and extension of the pool known
as the National Packing company, or
dered dissolved by the federal courts In
1912.
1--WE will show that this understapd-
ing between the packers has continued
and Is now in effect" he said, and
that they apportion the livestock pur-
chases throughout the United States on
the basis of their property holdings and
that all joint expenses are met on the
same basis
Buying agreements. tending to elemi-
nate competition and to permit the
packers to control the nations food
supply, long have been charged by the
live stock growers in their demands
for governmental inquiry into the bust
ness. E. c. Lasater, of Falfurrias, Tex.
a leading figure in the American Ma
tional Live Stock association, took the
stand to tell of conferences requested
by the packers to promote better feel
ing between the producing and purchas-
ing ends Of the business. He said little
was accomplished, as the packers were
insistent first of allthat the proposed in
qVry should be sidetracked entirely, or
confined only to economic questions
with all criminal aspects eliminated.
Colin II. Livingstone, representative
at Washington for Armour & Co., in
handling questions affecting their for
eiSn trade. and a business associate of
the late Senator Elkins, of West V1r
ginia; Charles w. Morse, and the Gug
genheims, was the only other witness
during the day His testimony ended
abruptly when Mr.. Heney produced evil
dence of a letter he had written Armour
e. Co, and which was not included in
the correspondence Livingstone fur
nished the commission. One of the COM
missions agents accompanied Mr.. Liv-
ingstone to his office to search for the
missing letter.
While on the stand, Mr.. Livingstone
said he had not been active against the
BoTland resolution.