New-York tribune., 1919-02-06
Wilson Refused
10 Interfere i'm
Packers Inquir,
Letter of Tumulty to Swift
Read to Senate Committee
Said Judgment of Trade
Commission Is Upheld

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-Letters reae
to-day at the Senate Agricultural Com
mlttee's hearing on meat industry leg
lslatlon disclosed that President Viii
son made personal investigation las
February Of protests against the Fed
eral trade commissions conduct of its
packing inquiry and informed Louis
f. Swift that he was convinced tha
there would be no warrant for his in
terferirg With the judgment and ac
tion of the commission"
During cross examination of Henry
Needer, counsel for Swift G. Co., by
Francis J. Heney, Mr.. Veeder read
various letters written by Louis F
Swift to government officials, including
the President, protesting against
methods Of the trade commission. He
read the following from Secretary
Tumulty, under date of February 27
1918, replying TO the appeal to the
/ President:
"The President has asked me to &C
letter of February 19 and to say that
Immediately upon its receipt he looked
into the matter about which you wrote
him in careful inquiry of the Federal
Trade Commission as to just what the
character and process of the present
investigation are. The inquiry has con-
vinced him that there would be no war
rant for his interfering with the iudg-
ment and action of the commission.
He is very sorry if any inconven-
fence has been caused Swift & Co., but
has asked me to say that it is probable
that the significance Of many of the
matters apparently irrelevant which
the commission has drawn out in evi-
dence will, it is hoped, clearly appear
IN the final report of the commission. -
Senator Norris, Of Nebraska, ques
toned the accuracy of letter from
Mr. Swift to the President, in which
1T was stated that Swift & Co.'S diyi
dends for 1917 were 10 per cent.
Don't you think, if Mr.. Swift want
cd to be real fair" asked the Nebraska
Senator, "he should have said that
Swift e. Co. by their own figures made
profit of 33 1-3 per cent?
Mr.. Needer said he didn't think the
PRESIDENT got the wrong impression.
Mr. Needer was questioned closely by
Mr. Heney regarding the packers atti-
tude toward investigation of the meat
industry The witness vigorously criti-
clsed the methods Of the trade com
MISSION, reiterating the charge that the
packers were not given an opportunity
to be heard. y
IN the bearing before the House In
terstate Commerce Commission todav
tdWard {. liasater, former chief of the
livestock and markets division of the
1000 admlnistration, continued his at
TACK on the food administration. as
sertlng that the policies of Admins
TRAITOR Hoover had been determined for
hlm by the five leading meat packers
ana carried out by employees of the
packers serving the government for a
dollar q year
when Mr.. Hoover took the Office he
assumed the responsibility of repre-
sentlng all interests" Mr.. Lasater said
ouC he never did; he protected the
mining interests, the packing interests
ana lhe compound feed interest, but he
dlsregarded entirely tht interests of
the producer and the consumer. II
would be difficult to estinatr how much
the country has lost as a result"
Mr.. Lasater said Mr.. Hoover told him
shortly after taking office that he would
not invite 2 single packer to sit at his
couhsci table because of their reputa-
ton
But within three weeks from that
time" said the witness. "Mr. Hoover
had arranged for having the packers
take sole charge of the meat end Of the
department."