El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-16
Asserts Packers
LOb6yiStSActiUe
IN Capital City
Henry Charges Swift & Co.
Packed Food Bureau
With 81 Year Men.

Washington. D. C, Jan. 1s.-Resum-
ing his testimony Wednesday before
the senate agricultural committee al
hearings on the bill to regulate the
meat packing industry. Francis J. he
ney gave information as to the nature
Of letters filed in the Chicago office Of
Henry veeder. counsel for Swift and
company.
In answer to questions by men,
] bers Of the committee, Mr.. Heney
/ went over much Of the ground COW
I cred in the investigation by the fed
/ eral trade commission Of which he
/ was special counsel
Tell Of Gifts to Mann.
He dwelt at some length upon let
| ters written by Veeder to Swift.
| which, he said, agents of the commits
( sion saw, although they did not get
! possession Of them, telling OF sending
I fancy steaks and horse to represen-
E tative Mann. Of Illinois. Republican
: leader Of the house. The witness said
Mr.. Mann aided the packers in their
/ fight against the Borland resolution
for a congressional Investigation.
@COngressmen told me.1 he said.
"thnt representatives Mann and
Carlin Rugged each other before
the speakers seat when "a was
announced the BOrland resolution
had been defeated
Mr.. Heney declared that the state
ments in the report on the federal
trade commission, submitted to presi-
dent Wilson by the chamber Of COM
merce Of the United States. were
without foundation and absolutely
contrary to facts"
Millions For aPrOpaEnnda.s
Questioned by senator Norris rela-
tive to the packers expenditures for
advertising purposes, Mr.. Heney said
from the beginning Of the federal
trade commissions investigation Swift
and company spent a million a month
for that purpose.
The Advertisements" he added
were for the obvious purpose Of
creating public sentiment"
Letters in the packers files showed.
the witness continued. that their OBJ
ject in carrying on their advertising
campaign was for the purpose Of in
uuencing the newspapers not to pub
lish certain things, such as the fed
eral trade commission report and to
influence editorials
Dominant in Finances
Mr.. Heney declared danger lay in
close connection between the packing
industry and the financial interests
OF the country. In Chicago, he said,
where they held principal affiliated
interests, the packers come pretty
close to dominating the financial sit
uation in that city. In order to con-
troll the purchase Of supplies, he
added, the packers own stock in prac-
-ically every big new hotel built in
he country.
Asked by senator Kenyon as TO
whether the packers control did not
also extend to public utilities Mr.
Heney replied that in Sioux City, Ia,
they not only controlled the stock
yards, but the street railway and
other public utilities. while in Kansas
City the Armours controlled the street
car system
Mr.. Heney said the federal trade
commissions report was TO the effect
that ArmOurs was in small type,
While statement by Swift and Co,
relative 70 the report was printed in
larger type.
DO you know IL packers have any
stock in the Congressional Record
asked senator Norris.
NO" Heney replied. but I know
they have lobbyists who are pretty
active in Washington
Involves 81 Year Men.
Heney told the committee that Swift
and company had packed" the food
with dollar a year
men," who received large salaries
from the company at the time they
were serving the government
Mr. aeney, who was appearing in
support OF the Kendrick bill for gov
eminent regulation OF the meat indus
try, said food administrator Hoover
sought to stop him from making pub
lie letters, criticising retention by the
OF W. F. Priebe while
the latter still was in the employ Of
Swift and company
Mr.. Hoover, according to the wit
ness, appealed to president Wilson, Z
saying that publication Of the letters
was hindering the food administra- {
ton
Admits @seandaIOus Profts.s
The witness said that Joseph p. Cot I
ton, head OF the food administration I
meat division was a man Of high in I
tegrity, but was unfit for the Job Of /
regulating the packers" Mr.. Heney
said Mr.. Cotton had admitted TO him !
that the profits Of the packers IN 1917 /
were "scandalous"
Swift and company's profits year /
before last we're &z7.000.O0O. If you
believe the books" said Mr.. Heney. ]
This compared with ss.50O.000 a year
during the three pre-war years, ac- /
cording to the witness.
Resumes Testimony.
Resuming his testimony, numerous !
letters, describing the petitioners eff /
IorIs 10 prevent the passage In the I
house OF the Borland resolution. pro-
viding for an investigation OF the 1
packing Industry Virtually all the I
letters were taken By the witness from 1
testimony presented to the federal 4
trade commission in connection with /
Its recent investigation.
One letter. which the witness said I
was signed by R. c. McManus. attoR
ney for Armour & Co., was In the ma 4
ture OF a report on the prospects Of Il
action on the Borland resolution by I
the house committee. It said:
1--WE can rely on you. Webb.
Varlin, ThOmaE, TaEGnrt, IaEO,
Williams, Whhley, Daley, Cara
way, OF Arkansas, and Dyer and
addedl
1--WE are also sure that Gard,
Of Ohio. can be cnnfrnIed.n