Evening journal., 1919-01-21
OGDTN DENIES
PACKERS' COMBINE
Tells House Company Has
Never Been Part OF
Pool
CHARGES GROSSLY
UNFAIR HE SAYS
By the United Press.

BY the United Press.
/ WASHINGTON, Jan. 2i.-Flauy deny
ing charges OF conspiracy with other
packers, j. ogden Armour replied 90 The
recent fire OF Tho Federal Trade Com
mission today.
Teslfylng before the House Interstate
/ Commerce Committee DE built up am
: elaborate defense of his concerns husl-
ness conduct.
Armour finished with this sweeping
denial:
~ say 90 you positively that we have
not been Tor many years and are not
now In any pool, combination or ar
rangement OF any kind, either directly
or Indirectly or openly or sec city or
under cover. An such charges are ut
lerly unfair and untrue"
Throughout Armour made Che Fed
eral Trade Commission his target at
lacking ls methods during ihe recent
Investigation by FRANCIS j. llency.
This Is Arm0ur's FIRST appearance be-
fore a government body. lls company
has not previously been given a chance
90 answer accusations, he said.
I'm the Investigation made by the
Federal Trade C0mmiss on and which
has resulted In the pending bills. %
has been admitted boy Chairman Glover
that we were afforded no opportunity
10 produce witnesses, to Introduce tesli-
mony or to explain or answer any OF
the documents introduced at That hear
ing" Armour asserted.
he earnestly urged Congress mob Go
pass pending bills nrov.d nE governs
ment licensing OF packing houses, and
government ownership or operation Of
Siockyards. refrigerator cars. branch
houses and other adjuncis 90 the pack
ing business.
II a monkey wrench is thrown into
the gears OF this business lis effects
viii not De confined 90 The meat pack
ing industry" Armour went on "The
theories on which pending legislation
Is based are not constructive. they are
not progressive They are reaciionary."
Such laws probably would be un-
constitutional Armours legal advisers
believe.
Touching briefly on hieh prices the
witness said live hogs had Increased
In price 2iJ per cent IN four years.
Labor and fuel costs have also gone
up, he pointed out
Charles OF excessive profits, however
were denied In 1918 Armour's profits
are said 90 have been SIS cents on each
dollar OF sales as compared with s37
in 1917.
Recalling that, on November 4, 1917.
the food administration limited pack
ers profits TO nine per cent. on The cap
ital Invested In meat producing lines.
Armour declared that only about one
I half Of this allowance was actually
earned
"The Federal Trade Commission" he
continued, "has failed completely 10
justify its charges OF unduly large
profits
During the last rs years including
the war period the earnings Of Armour
and Company on the actual Investment
and appraised value OF The business
averaged SO per cent, on everything
including an our by-products and an
our associated lines"
"Side lines" pay the bills Armour
said, In explaining the policy OF push-
Ing products. The same sales 0rganiza-
tion can be used and factories and em-
ployes can be kept busy In on season
periods. Soap. violin strings, soft drinks
and perfume were classed as legitimate
side lines for packers.
Referring 30 the pending bin which
would take refrigerator cars out OF
packers hands, Armour insisted be had
lost money on refrigerator cars for ihc
last six years, but that they were es-
sential They are'subiect 10 the Inter
state Commerce Commission, be said,
adding that ne failed 90 zee any adj
vantage 20 the public by government
ownership of them.