Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-14

commission to use in connection with
it's inquiry, but which the courts had
restrained the commission from obtain
ing.
Summoned to Borders Office.
According to Heney. Markham was
summoned to Borders Office, where he
ness declared contained bottle of
whisky and another Of gin, together
with a box of cigars. This package
was turned over to the Federal Trade
Commissioner, In whose possession 1t
still remains, MIR. Henry said, but Mark
ham disappeared.
Mr.. Heney also charged that the
packers had attempted to influence
political elections and had con-
tributed to congressional campaign
funds. This information, he said, was
based on letters found in the packers
files.
MIR Heney testified that when the
Borland resolution was pending
before a House subcommittee that
the packers claimed that former Con-
gresham Taggart of Kansas. then
member of the House. had agreed to
came up for consideration Taggart,
Mr.. Heney claimed, voted for it.
Representatives of the packers heard
this and asked Mr.. Taggart about his
vote, but. according to Mr.. Heney.
Taggart told them he had voted as
chairman revealed, the witness de-
c1ared, that this was untrue.
Contributed to Campaign Fund.
Despite this. however, Mr.. Heney
said the packers contributed $1,000 to
Taggart's campaign fund.
When he was defeated, Taggart,
according to Heney. was appointed
an investigator for the Federal Trade
Commission, but when this informa-
ton was revealed he was discharged,
Mr.. Heney charged that FIVE big
packing companies have q monopoly
Of the meat business not only in
this country. but also control the
industry in other countries as to
be able to manipulate prices IN the
United States. These companies ne
said, were Armour & Co, Swift g
Co, Morris & Co, 4Cudahy Packing
Company and Wilson & Co.
THE evidence gathered by the Fed
era1 Trade Commission" said MI.
Heney. convinced me that five large
packers have what is in effect a mo-
nopoiy of the meat business OF the
United States, and have it so In
trenched by control over the meat
business of other countries contrib
utory to the United States that they
are able to overthrow the law OF sup
ply and demand and fix prices not
only to the producer, but also to the
consumer
The history of the packing industry
from its acquisition Of control over
the refrigerator cars Of the country
was reviewed by Mr.. Heney. These
companies now control more than 80
per cent Of the refrigerator cars in
the country. Control of these cars,
he said, has resulted in the packers
destroying the local slaughtering
business.
Declares Competition Destroyed.
Mr.. Heney said that the Ave big
packers, by means of price cutting.
have destroyed competition. and he
charged that this is being praeticsd
where each OF these concerns has
branches, they take turns cutting
prices for the purpose OF destroying
competition. the witness said. After
accomplishing their ends; She, ne added Iasn
Mr. Heney told the committee that
Swift & Co., especially in New
England, by cutting prices has driven
every sheep producer out of business.
Letters obtained by the he Federal t,iss
Swift g. Co. Mr. Henry said.
show that It is not economical to ship
cattle from St Paul to Chicago or
Kansas City to Chicago to be killed.
This, he said. disputes the argument
that it is more economical to kill at
one point, as at Chicago. but that 1t
would be more economical to Kill at
points nearer the points Of produce
ton.
Because Of the great extent of their
business, Mr.. Heney said that the
hackers have been able to dominate
the business Of railroads by throw
ing their business from one road to
another If they saw fit. He added
there is at least one instance where
they punished one railroad for some
reason and it was his recollection
that they are still doing it. The pack
ers don't let anything get away
from them"
Mr.. Heney reviewed the Federal
Trade Commissions report relative to
the packers method of controlling
the live stock market and said the
reason the packers want to own the
stock yards is because they desire to
control the yards books and the
terminal railways.