The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-29

of Chicago. The complaints against
the packers and the preliminary evil
dence were filed with Attorney General
Knox within the last month.
PRINCIPAL CHARGE.
The principal charge made may be
summed in this paragraph:
That the six leading packing concerns
of Chicago are engaged in combina-
tion arbitrarily to fix the price Of cattle
on the hoof, of dressed beef and what Is
termed provisions; to raise and lower
prices Independent of natural laws, to
stihe competition, to accept rebates
and determinations from the railways,
to boycott competitors. to blacklist Of
Tending employees. and that all these
acts are illegal and contrary to the
antitrust and interstate commerce
laws of the United States.
Appended are some of the commune
cations relating to the Scranton busi-
ness of the alleged combine now in the
possession of the governments:
p. l.. Hughes, eastern agent of j. p.
Cudahy, writing of the organization Of
credit association in Scranton, Pa,
organized by the packers representa-
tives, it is charged, to destroy competi-
tion says:
Replying to your telegram of the 20th inst
with regard to the Credit Association OF Scran
ton, ] desire 10 say that soon the mana
gers there got together and made this agreement
l objected to it strongly. and since we have been
using every effort 10 bring the minimum fine up
to SO 1t should have been changed. In
fact my idea is this: That the fines should he
in proportion to the nature of the ofcnse and to
the extent OF the 500 that we gave up, and that
should he lett TO the judgment OF the arbitrator.
have instructed our manager at Scranton to this
effect.
a meeting called 10 make change only
attended by our Mr.. Babbitt and the representa-
tive OF Armour & Co. You can make any agree
ment at that end You see fit, because it will not
affect us one way or another. go on the policy
that The rules Of any association in the district
are not too strict, Sroviding everything is equal.
LETTER TO ARMOUR & co.
II. +. Conners, of Armour & Co., was
confldentially consulted about a pork
association among packing houses, as
is explained in this letter:
Referring to your telegram received while at
Utica, with regard TO forming a pork association
similar to the one we have in Allegheny, it is
certainly II good idea, and heretofore | have
talked the matter over with Mr.. Corners and
Others here who are interested The trouble is to
get them all together. We would be obliged to
take in Wllkes.Barrc as well and have the three
towns work together.
had another talk with Mr.. Connors about this
yesterday, and we will endeavor TO do something
in this line next week.
had thought Of making Pittston and Scranton
this week, but there are matters connected with
cur taxes and Ice contracts at the West End that
will be obliged to attend to before ] can make
Scranton again. | hope your are in
position to compare prices pork with Others
in that part of the country and will LET me know
the result,
When there was no pressing necessity
for working upon the New York dealers
and consumers the managers visited
other territory for the same purpose,
Ito which this confidential report from
Pittston, Pa, bears witness:
! have never failed to get those fellows 10 in
crease the price when so there, but it generally
lasts hut n week or two. Nelson Morris has not
sent an Inspector there in over year, although
their man Sullivan visits Scranton and Wilkes
Barre regularly Dolttc, of Sohwazschild
sulzbrrger, was there Il few days this week, and
he left in disgust, without attempting to do any
thing with them, | think, however, we will get
better results from there for the next week or
two
The energy of the managers was
again shown in Scranton, when an at
tempt was made to organize IA "love
feast among the alleged competitors,
This trip was described as follows:
HE WAS HERE.
! was at Scranton until afternoon Friday, and
myself and Armour's man Osgood drummed up Il
meeting Of the managers Of the different branch
,ll.,t
hut ! am Informed by Mr., Conners this morning
that swift & Go. declined to put up a forfeit
and without that ! am quite certain ii would be
a failure. My idea was 10 organize il something
after the plan OF the Allegheny association, and
gave Them what instructions ! could on this
line, and would have stayed over today To help
them ont, but for my anxiety to be present at
the meeting in New York, so as TO have q voice
in The organization of the credit associations.
Another Scranton evidence" of the
existence of the alleged trust Is pre-
,,. .,lln lAtt