Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-30
AND
HENEY CLASH
ON QUESTION
Verbal Fight 1ndulged in
over Methods Used by Fed
eral Trade Commission.

Washington, Jan. SO.-Louis F.
Swift, president OF the Swift and
company, formally waived before
the senate agriculture commit
tee today any immunity from
prosecution which might be ac-
quired through his testimony in
the committees hearings on leg
tslatiOn to regulate the meat in.
dustry.
Washington, Jan. 3O.-Examination
OF Louis F. Swift, president of Swift
S Co., before the senate agriculture
committee, was halted today to enable
him to consult counsel about the ef-
feet of his testimony upon his status
In legal proceedings in which i'm
munity might be sought.
A sharp clash between Francis ].
Heney and Henry Veder, counsel for
Swift & Co., over methods used by
the federal trade commission in its
recent investigation of the meat pack
ing industry. took place at the hear
Ing on a bill to regulate the industry.
Mr.. Heney asked Louis F. Swift If
his company had made application
for a public hearing during that i'm
quiry. ssdeclarif1g he resented charges
| made by the five big packers that the
ESoAitA1AAoo.ot AMySStA6deAuA anu TePOIt
II want to see how fairly you
treated the federal trade commission
and it's attorney" said Mr.. Heney.
| Mr.. Swift said a telegram sent to
the commission in February, 1917,
asked that the packers be heard, a
statement which Mr.. Heney vigorous
ting among the spectators. attempted
to speak.
You'll be called in time. Mr.. vee-
der" said Mr.. Heney. "Mr. Swift is
on the stand now and understand he
is head Of the Swift & Co., although
your salary of $65,O00 year is larg-
er. than his of $50.OO0."
Mr.. Veeder insisted upon stating
that he had interviewed members of
the commission in an effort to obtain
a hearing.
"You mean with your friend, Ed
ward N. Hurley?" queried Mr.. Heney
"And Mr.. Davis and Others" was
the reply.
"You did more to obstruct. the in
Mr.. Heney. "and you desired by the
use of the unlimited money of the
five big packers to drag out the pro-
ceedings until our money had all been
SPENT
"Just minute, Mr.. .Heney,", inter-
jected Mr.. Veeder. fyou prevented
us from cross-examining your wit
nesses.''
Senator Norris of Nebraska inter-
rupted and stopped the exchange. He
then asked Mr.. Swift what the late
George L. Mccarthy, general manager
lof the National Provisioner, did for
the packers in return for the $4,000
yearly they paid him.
HE helped us out Of an oleomar-
1pa rino m paiOnv said Mr. . Swift
who explained that the matter was
handled by Mr.. .Veeder.and he was
not familiar with the details
Mr.. Swift refused to waive any le-
gal rights and on the advice on Fran
els J. Heney. the committee recessed
to permit the witness to determine
with, COUNSEL the conditions. under
which he would continue testifying.
| Senator Gore Of Oklahoma objected
| to Mr. Swift testifying in regard to
! the abandonment OF the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas railroad Fort
Worth stockyards. -.
II don't want Mr.. Swift to have inn
munity," Senator Gore said.
Senator Norris Of Nebraska said
the witness had not been subpoenaed
and was not under oath and conse.
Quently could not have an s'immunity
BATH Mr.. Swift. however, said he
would neither waive nor claim im-
munity or answer legal questions
without the advice of counsel.
"Was your idea in testifying here,
or In Offering to testify in the federal
trade commissions investigation to
gain immunity? p asked Mr.. Heney.
NO. sir,' replied Mr.. Swift. He
added that he would not discuss his
legal rights but desired ito continue
his testimony just as II the question
had not arisen.' 81.
But the courts may give you inn
munity unless you specifically agree
not to accept it, said Mr.. Heney.
washington. Jan. so.-After hear
ing the testimony Of the five leading
meat packers on the charge OF the
federal, trade commission that they
ihad combined to control meat priees,
members Of the house interstate COM
Im2rce committee today tentatively
agreed to demand Of the trade CONF
m Aston that 1t submit names Of witt
lnessess upon whose statements Its
Icharges Of c6llusion had been based.
/ IA demand for this action was made
by. Representative Winslow Of Mas
sachusetts. while T. e. Wilson, presi-
dent Of Wilson e Co.. was testifying
fand was agreed to by other members
Of the COMMITTEES during q: heated
ldiscuesion which followed. sS RI
Representative Decker of Missouri
made 2 motion that the commission
that II It refused the committee
the power to demand them, Final
action on the motion was postponed,