New-York tribune., 1918-03-01
Federal Trade Commission
Demands Action in
Chicago Inquiry
Heney Restrained
From Selling Letters
Veeder, Counsel for De-
fence, Holds Documents,
Is Charge

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s-Speciai and
speedy legislation to lay bare the con-
iidential fles OF the great meat packers
and disclose what government investi-
gators believe VIII show plans to take
complete control OF the meat industry
was asked of Congress to-day by the
Federal Trade Commission.
On recommendation of Francis j =.
Heney, special counsel conducting the
commissions investigation. who has
been restrained b. 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
Charging that Henry Veeder counsel
Tor the packers, rs still the custodian
OF many papers which have been used
IS nstrumentalities in the commission
q felonies," Mr. Heney asked for a
supplement- to the espionage law to fa-
cllltate the governments inquiry into
she industry.
After Federal Judge Lands. of Chi
cago. had issued a search warrant au-
thorlzlng the seizure OF important doc
l.Fnenls In the possession of Mr.. Wee
cSr the Federal Circuit Court Of An
peais restrained : marshal from re-
moving or examining any of the papers
IN VII. Needer's vault. and further from
ei.alllhihS or III any way using papers
s,!ready seized by the government.
Specifically. Mr. Hencv asked that
tcngress amend or supplement the
espionage act so that the "decision OF
q Judge who issues search warrant
siail be conclusive upon the question
ef the existence OF probable cause. and
lnat q summary proceeding already pro-
Flded by the statute Tor the determina-
non OF the question OF whether the
property seized under the writ was
Used tor the commission of felony
sAall likewise be conclusive for tho
purpose only of enabling the court to
retain such property IN the custody of
the law until the purpose for its seiz-
ure shall have been served" -"
The action of the appellate Court in
ISSUING the stay, said Nh Henev. pre-
vented the government from even ox-
aiming papers. already in It's possess
sior. and which q Federal district court
had found had been used "as the means
q committing felonies by Swift & Co.
anc other corporations
counsel Heney in his letter. declared
at Mr.. Needer at the Beef Trust trial
1912, after the statute of lirnitat1ons
rad expired, had testified that fo,.
::''any years, his office was the clearine
rouse for the five big packers in a
cfiminal conspiracy which they main
tanned for the fixing Of prices and the
control OF the meat Industry.
~ - he ie ., evidence which we have gath
cred IN the present investigation y con-
finued Mr.. Heney, ..stronelv tends In
rove thai this conspiracy, with some
slight modification of is scope and pur-
pose, hdS continued In oytetenca a,.ar
since and is still active and that Veeder
IS still the custodian Of many papers
which have been used in the pursuance
thereof as lnstrumontalities in the
commission OF feionies."
ne Swift Armour. Morris, Wilson and
Sudahy packing. companies are specf-
airy mentioned IN the alleged com
In its letter to Vice President Mar
shall. as president of the Senate tho
Federal Trade Commission described
1his question "to be OF sucn vital i'm
portanee to its work and possibly the
work Of other departments Of the gov