Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1919-01-30
PACKERS DECLARE
PROBE Was BIASED
CBy Review Leased wire)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. = While
Louis F. Swift, president of Swift &
Co., was being cross-examined today
before the senate agricultural commit
tee as to whether the five big pack
ers had combined to control meat
prices and markets, Edward a Cud-
ahy, president of the Cudahy Packing
company, and T. E. Wilson, president
of Wilson & Co., told the house, inter
state commerce committee, that pend
ing legislation to regulate the meat
packing industry was unnecessary.
Both Mr.. Cudahy and Mr. Wilson
said the investigation of the Industry
conducted by the federal trade COM
mission was unfair and biased and
that it should not be used as a basis
for action of congress. They declared
that if complete and impartial inves-
tigation had been made the commits
sion would have found that there was
no need for legislation.
Mr.. Wilson said he did not criticize
the investigators because they prob
ably were sincere, but he added that
J they started off with a fixed idea re-
garding the packers and were unable
to get rid of it."
Mr.. Cudahy declared the packers
would favor complete and better pub
licity of the facts and said that if
| this we're coupled with friendly CO.
operation, "far better results would be
attained than by more legislation"
| Both presidents declared that the
high efficiency of the packing industry
would be destroyed if controlled or
regulated by the government. They
said individual initiative and expert
ence was essential to the success of
the business.
Francis ]. Heney, chief counsel for
the trade commission in the investiga-
ton of the packers, again conducted
| the cross-questioning of Mr.. Swift to-
day before the senate committee. He
inquired into speculative transactions
in Swift stocks as well as into alleged
attempts of the big packing concerns
to control prices and markets.
Mr.. Heney produced number of let
ters passing between representatives
of Swift & Co, and those of other
packing companies regarding prices
and other matters, and asked Mr..
Swift to place his own construction on
them. The witness said the fact that
the letters had been exchanged was
evidence there was competition be-
tween the companies.
But wasn't the purpose to prevent
whatever competition there might
have been?" asked Mr.. Heney.
Il don't think so,' Mr.. Swift replied.
You know statesmen resort to all
sorts of practices to fool the other fel-
low"
Threatened Competition
In one of the letters read by Mr.
Heney, a representative of Swift &
Co., warned an agent of Wilson & Co.
that unless the latter concern stopped
its efforts to sell meat in Fresno
Calf, Swift & Co. would enter the Los
Angeles market.
Wasn't that a threat to keep vii
son out of Fresno and prevent him
from entering Swift & Co.'s terri
tory?" Mr.. Heney asked.
1T simply means that they were
competing" replied Mr.. Swift.
Before the house committee, Mr.
Wilson advised against government
control or ownership of stockyards
and refrigerator cars.
Under present circumstances com
petition and efficiency OF stOckyards
are assured" he said. There is ne
discrimination in favor of the large