Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-09-25

Harry A. Wheeler Refuses To
Express Opinion Before
Senate Committee
By L. O. Martin.

I tat
Washington, Sept. 25.-In seeking a
way to relieve the American people
from the high cost of living, congress
has practically abandoned the idea of
putiingthe meat packing business under
the control of the government while the
war last.
Many congressional students of living
costs agree that to add this enterprise
to the multitude of huge tasks I'm
Gle Sam has undertaken might defeat
the very purpose they have in mind.
While they have somewhat reluctantly
accepted this view, they have not and
will not relinquish their ADHERENCE to
the principle of government control of
stoekyards and packing houses as a
necessary part of the permanent solu-
tiOn of the high cost of living problem
here.
, 1t is deemed unlikely that President
Wilson will recommed legislation for
government control of either stoekyards
or packing houses now, as a result Of
his study of the federal trade commits
sion Is recommendations. The president
already has the power to take over
either the stoekyards or the packing
houses, or both, in war emergency, if
this becomes necessary.
The senate agricultural committee to-
day found Harry A. Wheeler, president
of the chamber of commerce, an unwil-
ling witness concerning the report of
the chamber s federal trade commission
on the packers. Wheeler and Senator
Norris clashed several times and Wheel
er finally refused to answer Norris
questions. Norris tried to get Wheeler
to state whether he Or the chamber be-
lieved the commission recommended the
taking over of packing plants by the
government, in its report. Wheeler
said the chambers committee 5 report
spoke for itself and refused to give his
own opinion.
Norris then tried to go into the rela-
tions Of the Union Trust company, Chi
coga. of which Wheeler is vice-presi-
dent, with the packers. Wheeler denied
his right to do this.
is your bank an Armour institution,
as it is called by the federal trade COM
missionY" asked Norris.
cit is not" replied Wheeler.
"How far is the committee justified
in calling it an Armour institution,
thens"
"It is not justified at ALL" said
Wheeler.
81 wish you would indicate your pur.
pose in bringing the Union Trust COM
pany into the matter, " added Wheeler.
eyes, and / IL be franker than you
have been," said Norris, "The com
mission says your bank is connected
with the Armour Packing concern. You
are president of the chamber of com
merce and ice-president of the bank
and the connection seems to me to have
direct bearing on the criticism of your
committee of the federal trade commits
sion.n
"If you want to know about the
bank IS relations call officials of the
bank" said Wheeler.
Wheeler finally said that none of the
Armours is an official of his bank. He
says he does not know whether any of
them hold stock in it or not. The
bank, he said, has loaned money to the
packers as matter of course.
"Do you approve or disapprove Of
the recommendation of the commission
that the government take over the stock
yards7p said Wheeler.
CT have no opinion to express" re-
piled Wheeler.
Wheeler declared he believed the re-
port which criticised the trade commits
sion was not inconsistent with the func-
tions Of the chamber of commerce.
"Do you deny the truth of any of the
findings of the trade commissionq"
asked Norris.
After fencing for ten minutes on this
point, Wheeler angrily declared he
would not answer.
Wheeler also had a brush with SEN
ator Kendrick, who asked him whether
the committee report was made without
reference to lis truthfulness,
"You have no right to make that as
Wheeler declared.
Kendrick said he wanted to learn ,
the report was the work of a !
Few men or represented the opinion of II
he chamber generally. Wheeler said it /
vas not necessary to submit to the en- {
ire membership. h
The committee on Thursday will hear [
members of the federal trade commits. l
ion. II