Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-16
HENEY TELLS OF
OBSTACLES MET
IN MEAT INQUIRY
Declares Food Administration
Was Packed With "DOlIar-
a-Day Men" by Swift
& Company.

Washington, Jan. l5.-Francis ].
Heney of San Francisco, who was
chief counsel for the federal trade
commission in its investigation of
the meat packing industry, told the
senate agricultural committee today
that Swift and company had pack
edp the food administration with
"dolIar-a-year men" who received
large salaries from the company at
the time they were serving the gov
eminent.
Mr.. Heney, who was appearing
in support Of the Kendrick bill for
government regulation of the meat
industry, said Food Administrator
Hoover sought to stop him from
making public letters criticising re-
tention by the administration Of w.
+. Priebe while the latter still was
in the employ OF Swift and company.
Mr.. Hoover, according to the wit
ness, appealed to President Wilson,
saying that publication Of the letters
was a hindrance to the food conser-
vation campaign. Mr.. Heney said
he was recalled from Chicago where
he was working in the commissions
investigation of the packers and
found on his arrival, here that the
president had advised the commits
sion that The had no instructions to
offer, but hoped that a head-on col
lision would be avoided"
Received Salary From Swift.
The witness said Mr.. Priebe had
charge of fixing poultry prices for
the food administration and that
while so acting he received a regular
salary from Swift and company with
a percentage of the income of Priebe
and company. This company, Mr..
Heney said, was owned by Swift
and company.
Mr.. Heney told the committee
that other employees of Swift and
company who received salaries from
the company while working with |
the food administration were E. o.
Heyl, who had charge of fixing
prices on canned goods; N. B. Col
Inns and F. S. Brooks. Heyl later |
resigned under fire, Heney said. |
Collins and Heyl, he asserted, re-
ceived $4,000 year from the COM
panY
Swift and company's profits year
before last were $47,000,000. IF you
believe the books" said Mr. Heney. |
This compared with $6,S00,000 a |
year during the three pre-war years
according to the witness.
Gifts Made to Mann.
Mr.. Heney dwelt upon letters
written by Henry Veeder, counsel |
10 Swift and company, telling of |
sending fancy steaks and a horse to
Representative Mann of Illinois, !
republican leader of the house. The
witness said Mr.. Mann aided the |
packers in their fight against the |
Borland resolution for congress
sional investigation.
Mr.. Heney declared that the |
statements in the report on the fed
eral trade commission, submitted to
President Wilson by the Chamber |
Of Commerce of the United States,
were without foundation and abso-
lutely contrary to facts"
Dominate Finances in Chicago.
Mr.. Heney declared danger lay
in close connection between the
packing industry and the financial
interests of the country. In Chi
cago, he said, through bank stock |
owned by affiliated interests, the
packers "come pretty close to domi-
mating the financial situation" In
order to control the purchase of sup
plies, he added, the packers own
stock in practically every new hotel
built in the country.
Asked by Senator Kenyon of
Iowa as to whether the packers con-
troll did not also extend to public |
utilities, Mr.. Heney replied that in
Sioux City, Ia, they not only con-
trolled the stock yards. but the
street railway and other public util-
tiles. while in Kansas City the |
Armours controlled the street car
system. The practice of extending
their control to these interests, he
said, was principally practiced by |
the Armour, Swift and Morris COM !
panies.