South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-16
BIG MEN PAID
BY PACKERS IS
HENEY CHARGE
Declares D0llar-a-year Men
Are on Payroll of
MilIionaireS.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1e.-Francis
J. 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
Thursday that Swift & Co. had
packed" the food administration
with "dollar-a-year-m who re-
ceived large salaries from the COM
pany at the time they were serving
the government.
Mr.. Heney. who was appearing in
support Of the Kenrick bill for gov
eminent regulation of the meat in
dustry. said Food Administrator
Hoover sought TO stop him from
making public letters criticizing re-
tention by the administration Of w.
F. Priebe, while the latter still was
in the employ of Swift & Co.
Mr. Hoover. according to the wit
ness. appealed 20 Pres't Wilson, say
/ ing that publication of the letters
was hindering the food conservation
campaign Mr.. Heney said he was
recalled from Chicago, where he was
working in the commissions investi-
CATION of the packers. and round on
his arrival here that the president
had advised the commission that
"he had TO instructions TO offer. but
hoped that head-on collision would
! be avoided"
The witness said Mr.. PRIDE had
charge of fixing poultry prices for
the food administration and that
while so acting he received a regu-
lar salary from Swift & Co, with a
percentage Of the income of Priebe
IL Co. This company, Mr.. Heney
said. was owned by Swift & Co.
Many of the complaints against
Priebe, the witness declared. charg-
ed that he, through various orders,
was working in the interest OF Swift
Co. Heney said he told Mr.. Hoover
! that Priebe should be removed, but
the food administrator 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.
Swift Pays Salaries.
Mr.. Heney told the committee that
other employees of Swift & Co. who
received salaries from the company
while working with the food admin
istration, were f. o. Heyl. who had
charge of fixing prices on canned
goods; II. b. Collins. and F. S.
Brooks. HeyI later resigned under
fire, Heney said. Collins and Heyl.
he asserted, received $4,000 a year
from the company.
The witness said that Joseph p.
Cotton, head Of the food administra-
tons meat division. was a man of
high integrity but was unfit for the
/ job of regulating the packers" Mr..
Heney said Mr.. Cotton had admitted
10 him that the profits of the pack
ers in 1917 were "scandalous."
Swift & Co.'S profits year before
last were s47.0OO,OOO, IF you believe
the books" said Heney. This com
pared with $6,5OO,OOO a year during
the three pre-war years, according
TO the witness.
Replying 10 questions by Sen. Ken
yon of Iowa and others. Mr.. Heney
said the commissions hearings in
connection with the investigation of
the packers had been brought 20 a
close sooner than had been planned
because of lack OF funds and the de-
sire Of the president that a report
be made as early as possible.
working against him, Mr.. Heney
said:
Il think there were a lot of in
fluences that worked TO end my ac-
tivities. but I don't think those in
fuences had any effect upon the
commissions decision TO end the
hearings"