The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-01
DIAMOND ~ LETTER |
MEAT PROBE PUZZLE|
Sent to Packer Swift, Giving
Advance News Concerning
Food Administration.
DESTROY TT, SAID WRITER
Wholesale Grocers' President
Charges Big 5 Planned to
Destroy Their Trade.

WAsHrNGToN, Jan. 3i.--while ursuc-
cessful efforts were being made before
the Senate Agriculture Committee to-day
to develop the identity of n person who
sent Swift & Go. advance information
regarding Government activities affect
ing the meat packing industry the House
Interstate Commerce Committee was IN
formed by the Federal Trade Commits
sion that 1t would furnish the names OF
witnesses upon whose testimony II had
made charges of collision among the
five big packing firms.
Louis f. Swift. president of Swift d
Co., and Henry Needer. its counsel, were
questioned before the Senate committee
about the writer referred 10 during the
hearing as Diamond T." One letter
from Thomas +. Logan of Washington
and another letter and several memo
randa unsigned but purportiug to be
from Diamond r. relating TO plans OF
the Federal Trade Commission and the
Food Administration had been read by
Francis J. Hcuey, who was conducting
the cross examination of the witnesses
for the committee. Both Mr.. Swift and
Mr. Needer said they could not recall
having previously seen the Diamond T
correspondence,
Hears l.. r. swifts stamp.
This designation OF the CORE spondence
was given because the letter had
inside diamond at the top OF the page.
It was dated Washington. June IS. 1911.
and told of plans for investigation OF
food prices. II was marked Private"
and bore the stamp Louis +. swift
with the date two days later. The letter
said
AT a meeting Of the commission to-
day Mr.. Davies was placed In charge
of the meat packing end OF the tcod IN
yestlgation. Mr. Colver in charge or
wheat and wheat products and the mem
bers allotted other phases Of the inquiry.
This Is under tho resolution ana ap-
preparation recently passed by Congress.
1.-THE work Is 10 be done as planned
in conjunction with the Hoover foou
| Administration. Mr.. Davies Will shorty
wire for a conference in Chicago. Tie
will outline the procedure and ask for
| assistance There will be enough delay
to give plenty of. time tor readiness. II
might be suggested that YOU have in
readiness everything bearing on high
prices and their causes, even though II
should not he precisely what is desired.
With your knowledge you should be able
| TO give some good leads and suggestions
| for further inquiry.
mfr. McManus could be helpful AZ this
! end II ne could get back immediately
Exchange of kilograms inadvisable.
| Please DESTROY this immediately
Depie. white House Tipping.
Isn't that the kind OF information
YOU paid Mr. Logan to get for you?'
| asked Senator Kenyon.
! Mr. Swift denied this.
/ DO YOU know of any letter in which
| Mr.. Logan advised you about what went
on at the White House,"
Mr.. Swift said he did not
A letter from Logan to Needer was
then read. In II the future activities
Of the Food Administration were de-
| tailed several days in advance. Of The
announcement that a Food AdInin!stra-
ton was to be appointed.
| Mr. Eeeder was called to testify. He
| said he was unable to say who had
written the diamond T. letter. He
/ doubted ii Tom Logan wrote that let
| ter"
Did the r. mean Tumulty?' asked
| Senator Norris CNeh.).
| IT don't know what il meant replied
| the witness Il don't think it meant
| Tumulty.'
| Mr.. Veeder said he had me-, Secretary
| Tun1ulty once as we'll as Joseph Davis
n member OF the Trade Commission
Mr. Veeder will continue his testimony
tomorrow.
Before the House committee charges
that the packers were attempting e
drive the wholesale grocers of the coun
try out OF business were made by VIII
lam T. Bode, president OF the Reid-Mur
dock Company of Chicago. He said thu
packers had become n great menace Il
the wholesalers because they obtained
special privileges. from the railroad
which enabled them to smother com
petition"
Mr.. Bode said the packers control tn
cheese market Of the world and hav
enormous sales Of countless other prod
ucts. He urged that legislation he en-
acted which would prohibit the railroad
from giving the packers preferred scr
vice.