Arizona republican., 1919-01-31
PACKERS NOW FEAR PROSECUTION
Swift Consults Attorneys -Waives Immunity y-Deal With M K. And T. Thought Unlawful Senate Com mittee Says People Demand Facts-Heney Introduces Meat Mems Letters To Show Collusion-Conducts Severe Examination Of Chicago Stock Men

of whether appearance of packers rep before congress would grant them immunity from prosecu tion under federal laws, and of com polling the federal trade commission to disclose the identity of witnesses upon whose testimony charges of col fusion were brought against the pack CTS, came up today at hearings before the senate and house committees.
 Louis F. Swift, president of Swift and Company. after comforting with his counsel, told the senate agriculture committee he would waive any rights he might have in respect to his testi- mOny regarding the abandonment of the M. K. and T. railroad stockyards at Fort Worth, Texas, located near plants in which Swift and Company and Armour and Company were inter- ested.
 The question of possible immunity for the witness was raised when Fran cis J. Heney began questioning Mr. Swift with regard to the abandonment of the railroad yards. Members of the committee said evidence in this matter had been referred to the department of justice, which was considering it's ap- plication to the Sherman antitrust law. There was a lengthy argument among members as to the effect of Mir Swift's testimony on his status in the event of prosecution in the courts, and it finally was ended with MT. Swift's announcement that he would waive any rights he might have.
 Ask for Witnesses Name
 T. E. Wilson, president of Wilson and Company, was testifying before the house interstate commerce com mission, when members brought up the matter of requiring the federal trade commission to furnish the names of the witnesses. MT. Wilson in reply to questions. denied that there was any collusi6l among the packers to raise prices. Representative Winslow of Massachusetts then said it would be useless to proceed further with the questioning of the witnesses unless the committee had something more to base questions on than anonymous allegations
 MT WinsloW said each packer who had testified had given satisfactory answers to all charges of the commis- sion, except those made by the un- named witnesses, and added that they could not be expected to answer these He suggested that the committee ask the trade commission to submit theil names and that the witnesses be called to testify
 The suggestion was embodied in a resolution offered by Representative Decker of Missouri, which specified that if the commission refused to give the names, the committee should de- mand them. Objection was made by Chairman Sims, who declared the com mittee did not have that power. MT Decker replied that the committee could go bef fore congress anC get the power, if that was necessary The investigation of the packers, ht said, had involved such importan matters that it was highly important that it be completed in every detail, sC the public could be informed whethel l the packers should go before a grand l jury or be given clean bill."
 Public Demands Facts
 l Tt is important that we get the req | facts in the case" MT. Decker said ''The public demands that we get them If We don't and go ahead discussing legislation founded on unsupported facts, this committee will be the laugh ing stock of the country
 MT. Decker asserted that the investi l gation by the federal trade commission was clearly partisan and incomplete He said the committee should let tn public know whether the packer should go before a grand jury or b l given a clear bill.
 Representative Esch of Wisconsin said he had closely examined the re port of the commission and agree, with Mir Decker that much of the i'm portant evidence had been of an anon ymous character, but believed tn committee should discuss the motiol in an executive session.
 Representative Winslow said he di not doubt that the trade commission was inspired by honest motives in mak ing it's investigation, but that the com mittee should not accept second han evidence as the basis of legislation.
 MT. Decker's motion. was seconde by Representative Dillon of South Da kota, but a vote on it was not take saying that MT. Wilson should be al lowed to proceed with his testimony It agreed that the packers should allowed to appear again, if the com mission witnesses were examined.
 Outgrowth of Old Trouble
 Mr. Wilson testified that many ( the troubles of the livestock producer and the packers would be relieved. the producers organized in every stat and cooperated with the packers an the department of agriculture. Th producers, he said, could regulate ship ments and the price would be almos uniform the year around, while now
 was gamble. Much of the agitatio against the packers, he contended, wa led by producers who had been give rough treatment by the packers yeaI
 ago, and who still held a grudge. H !; denied that the packers were control
 ling prices by collusion.
 Representative Sweet of Iowa want ed to know whether $50 1000, 900 pound of meat was held in storage throughol
 the country to maintain or increas
 the price.
 a No, indeed" MT. Wilson answere You must understand that is not sue
 an enormous quantity. A short tin
 ago my company had an order one
 half that amount, it had to fill in tW
 weeks. The figure seems large, bl
 large figures are common in the pacl ing industry"
 MT. Wilson said the great quantitit of pork held in storage resulted frol the governments action last summ, ) in urging increased production of hog There was a big response to u , governments request he state
 Then when the armistice was sign, $ and everybody began to believe pric l would tumble, every man who owned : hog wanted to get rid of it. The ma