Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-16
Many High-SaIaried Men Of
Big Packing Company Given
Responsible Positions at
Washington,
PRESIDENT REFUSED
TO COMPEL CHANGES
Profits Advance From &c.
100000 to S47,0O0,O 900
in 1917, Is Statement of
Attorney for Investigators,
"' Scr''sa 4e,r,., s-,e,.,,,,asr w,-s,

Washington. Jan, l5,--Francis j.
lieney of San Francisco who was
chief counsel for the federal trade
commission in its investigation of
the meat packing industry told the
senate agriculture committee TODAY
that Swift and company "had packed
the food administration with dollar
a year men who received large sal
aries from the company at the time
they were serving the government.
Mr.. Heney. who was appearing in
support of the Kendrick bill for gov
eininent regulation of the meat in
dustry' said Food Administrator
Hoover sought to stop him from
making public letters criticsing re-
tentton ny the administration vf w.
f. Priehe 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 hindering the food administra-
ton. 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 the president had advised the
commission that "he had no instruc-
tions to offer but hoped that a head
on collision would be avoided"
Worked i'm Company's Interest.
The witness said Mr. Priebe had
charge of fixing poultry prices for
the food administration and that
while so acting he received regular
salary from Swift and company with
a percentage of the income of Pricbe
and company. This company, Mr.
iIeney said. was owned by Swift and
company.
Many of the complaints against
Priebe. the witness declared, charged
that he, through various orders, was
working in the interest of Swift and
company. lIeney said he told Mr..
Hoover, Priebe should be removed,
but the food administrators declined
to take such action, whereupon an
agreement was reached that Heney
would make public no more letters
without first advising Mr. Hoover Of
their character.
Other Swift Employees.
Mr.. IIeney told the committee that
other employees of Swift and company
who received salaries from the COM
pany while working with the food
administration were Il. O. Heyl, who
had charge of fixing prices on canned
goods: II. =. Collins and f. S. Brooks
Heyl later resigned under fire, Heney
said. Collins and Heyl, he asserted,
received $4,000 year from the
company. The witness said that Jo-
seph T. Cotton. head of the food ad-
ministrations meat division, was a
man of high integrity. but was un-
fit 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 scandal
GUS"
Profits ScandalOus.
Swift and compAny's profits year
before last were 81 100000 "if you
believe the books" said Mr. Heney.
This compared with $6.500,O00 a year
during the three pre-war years, ac-
cording to the witness.
Replying to questions by Senator
Kenyon of Iowa and others, Mr.. He
ney said the commissions hearings
in connection with the investigation
of the packers had been brought to
close sooner than had been planned
because of lack of funds and the de-
sire of the president that report be
made as early as possible.