The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-31
SN|F 7 WAVES
IMMUNITY IN
j. s. HEARING
ABANDONMENT OF
,STOCKYARDS ISSUE
Wilson Denies Collusion of
Packers in the Fixing
of Prices.

WASHINGTON Jan. 3o.-Questions OF
whether app1arancc Of packers repre-
Scntacivcs before congress would grant
them immunity from prosecution under
federal laws and Of compelling the Fed
eral Tradn Commission to disclose the
identity Of witnesses upon whose tesu-
nlor.v charges OF cullusion were brought
AGAINST the hackers, came up today st q
hearing before tho Senate and House
committees.
Louis F. Swift president OF Swift G
Company. after comforting with his
counsel. told the Senate Agricultural
committee nc would waive his rights IN
respect TO his testimony in regard 70 the
abandonment Of the NJ. h. & T. railroad
Stockyacds at Fort Worth. Texas. located
near plants in which Swift and Company
and Armour and Company were interest
ed.
VALVES Immunity. ~
rhe question Of immunity for thc wit
ness was raised when Francis J. Hcney
began questioning Mr.. Swift with regard
to the abandonment Of the railroad
wards Members Of the committee SAID
evidence in this matter had been referred
10 the Department OF Justice which was
considering it's application to the Sher-
man antitrust law. There was lengthy
arcun,ent among members as TO the ell
feet of Mr.. Swift.s testimony on ms
status in the event Of prosecution IN .he
courts md Il was finally ended with Mr.
Swift's announcement that he would
waive any rights he might have
T. F.. Wilson, president OF wilson O.
Company. was testityinG oeIore the
House interstate commerce cohHittee
when members brought up the matter
OF recurring the federal trade cofnfnls-
sion to furnish the names OF the WIZ
nesses, Mr.. Wilson, In reply to oues-
lions denied that there was any collus-
ion among the packers to fix pV1ces-
Representative Winslow. Of Massachu-
setts. then said it would be useless 10
nroceed further with the questioning
nf tho witness unless the committee
had something moro to base questioos
on then anonymous allegations,
should Demand Names,
Mr.. winslow said each packer who
had testified had given satisfactory
answers to all charges Of the commis,
sion exceDt those made by the unnamed
witnesses. and added that they could
not be expected to answer those. he
suggested that the committee ask lhe
trade committee to submit their names
and that the witnesses be called 10 tes-
tify.
The SUGGESTION was cIiippN'|o III -
resolution offered by Representative
Decker Of Missouri which specified that
if the commission refused to give the
names the committee should demand
them. Chairman Sims declared the COM
in!ttee did not have that power. Mr.
Decker replied that the committee couId
go before Congress and get the power
if that was necessary. The invest:Ea-
ZION of the packers he said. had IN
volvcd such important matters that 1t
was highly important that it b" com
plcted in every detail so the puUlc
could "be informed whether the pack
crs should 20 before a grand jury or be
given a clean bill.
Explained BY Swift.
The committee expects 10 dispose or
the resolution tomorrow. 1t agreed tnat
the. packers should bo allowed TO appear
again if the commission witnesses were
examined. In examining Mr.. Swift rf'
Gartling the VI. +. Il T. yards. Mr.. H"rteY
. read letters to show that Swift * 90.
Continued on Page Eleven-)