New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-24
Brooklyn A gents of
Packers Also Charged
With Violation of the
War Time Lever Act
Men Face Fines
And Imprisonment
Butchers, as the Principal
Accusers, Say Two-Price
Methods Were Used

N1ct1OOS w e e OScO
The Federal grand jury in Brook
lyn returned indictments yesterday
against Armour & Co., Swift & Co.
and Wilson & Co., as we'll as against
the local agents of the firms, who
were arrested last week on charges
Of profiteering. The principal tes-
timony before the grand jury was
given by butchers, who declared that
two prices had been charged for
meat of the same grade bought at
approximately the same Sine.
Harry G. Mills, assistant superin-
tendent Of Armour & Co.: William
Cleary, manager of Swift g. Co., and
Louis Joseph, manager of Wilson &,
Co., the individual defendants, were
arraigned before Judge Garvin. The
general charge against them and
against the corporations they repre-
sent is viola tion of the Lever act.
At the request Of Fl. II Harwood,
Assistant United 9tates Attorney.
May 10 was set as the date for the
trial of the cases. The bail of So 500
each, which had been fixed when the
packers representatives were ar
rested last week, was continued by
Judge Garvin.
Riley Expects Conviction
Armin W. Riley, head of the fly
ing squadron which the Department
of Justice commissioned to hunt
profiteers, expressed confidence that
the evidence in each case was strong
enough to justify his hope of con-
viction. He declared further that he
proposed to "go to the mat" with
every merchant, large or small, sus-
pected Of gouging.
Each individual in the packers cases
is accused Jointly in each count with
the corporation he represents and, in
the event of conviction, is subject to
fine and Imprisonment on each count
Fines are the only penalty which NAV
be inflicted on the corporations. On
each count against him the individual,
if convicted. may be sentenced to two
years imprisonment and $4,000 fine.
There are three counts against Armour
& Go. and Mr. Mills; four against
Swift & Co. and Mr.. Ciesry. and one
against Wilson & Co. and NJ Joseph.
The principal witnesses before the
grand jury were NJ S.oerger. whose
butcher shop is at lO8 Myrtle Avenue;
Charles Grismer. head Of the Master
Butchers Association. who has a shop
at "a Fifth Avena., and Solomon
Strassburger whose shop is at 73 Fifth
Avenue, all in Brooklyn.
Charge Two-i'tce Methods
Their testimony followed the same
general lines, each having a complaint
of two-price methods against one OF
the packing concerns. S.oerger de-
clared that Armour & Co had charged
him 32 cents pound for some pork
loins and 3S cents pound for some
others of like quality delivered or the
same day. Grismer declared tnnt l4i3
by Swift & Co. for hind quarters Of
beef delivered from the same lot and
quality. assburger sa ID tina: on the
morning Of April 13 ne hao paid Will
son & Co. 80 cents a poand tor kinds
of beef. while for kinds .hAt he bought
after noon that day he was charged 33
cents.
Mr.. Riley asserted that the down.
ward tendency of prices that Is becom-
ing noticeable now is the beginning of
general recognition on the part oe mcr-
chants that the present burdens on the
public cannot be continued, and that
prices must be cut, even at sacrifice
of part of abnormal profits. The cut
in clothing prices is due TO the recog-
milton of this fact, he said, and not to
the overall campaign.
Says Merchants Can Cut Prices
"All this talk about merchants he
ing unable to reduce their prices and
still make fair profit is bunk" said
Mr.. Riley. They can cut their prices
far below the present level and still
continue to make a satisfactory prof.
on the capital invested.
been making tremendous profits for
years. It's time now that the public
should get something blackwell, not
exactly get something back, but should
be allowed to buy necessaries of life
at fair prices. l am going to the mat
with those who balk and claim that
they can't live on the profits they
WouiO make Win small revision down
ward.
"Those who don't show willingness
to act now in assisting in making living
conditions more bearable are going to
have to stand an investigation by my
office OF their business records as far
back as October %, when the law deal
ing with this matter went into effect.
/ can go back :nto the records and deal
with any instance of gougipg discov-
cred since that date, and stand just as
good a chance of obtaining convic-
ton as in the cases of those charging
outrageous prices to-day"
Offer to Lower Prices
A representative of one of the largest
department stores in the Eastern
District section of Brooklyn had called
on him to offer to join the price cutting
merchants, Mr.. Riley said. D. McDugaI.
who has shoe store at Myrtle Ave.
nue., had offered to reduce prices S or
10 per cent Immediately, Mr.. Riley said.
and make q further reduction later.
Many small shop keepers were follow
ing the lead set by the big stores. he
said.
Sugar is one staple that has deAed