River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-05-15
THE BEEF SUIT IS BEGUN.
United States Attorney Bethen-
Restraining Order Asked.


Chicago, May IA restraining or
der was asked late Saturday against
leading packers, including j. Ogden
Armour, Nelson Morris, G. T. Swift,
the corporations they represent, the
shareholders of the companies, their
managers, including Arthur Meeker,
Louis F. Swift and others, and several
other employees of the companies al
legged to be in beef combine" The
action is brought by the United States
government for alleged violation of
the Sherman antitrust act. The long
expected bill was filed by United States
Attorney Sol Bethea at four o'clock
Saturday afternoon The bill is far
more sweeping in its charges than had
been anticipated and the parties named
In it make long list.
synopsis of the bill follows:
The bill of complaint is against Swift
& Co, the Cudahv Packing company,
the Hammond Packing company, Armour
Co, the Armour Packing company,
the q. II. Hammond company, Schwarzs-
enid Sulzberger. Nelson Morris y
Co.. and the individuals composing these
corporations and firms.
1t declares that they have been, and
are now engaged in the business of buy
ing live stock at stock yards through
out the United States, and Strengthening
such live stock at plants maintained for
that purpose; that they are also engaged
IN the business of selling fresh meats to
dealers and consumers. and shipping
these meats over the lines of railroad
companies serving as common carriers
The defendants, it is alleged, control
ABOUT 90 per cent. of the total volume of
the trade, having, during 1901, purchased
slaughtered, sold and shipped 100000
cattle, 100000 sheep and 100000 hogs.
In violation of the provisions of IAN
act to protect trade and commerce
against unlawful restraints and monop-
ol1es, and in order to restrain compe-
tition among themselves, they have di-
rected and required their agents at the
various stock yards to refrain from bid
ding against each other, except per-
functorily and without good faith, when
making purchases of live stock, and by
this means inducing and compelling the
owners to part with it at less prices
than they would receive if the bidding
were really competitive.
In further violation of the act they
have engaged in, and intend to con-
tinue, an unlawful combination and con-
spiracy among themselves for bidding
up, through their agents, the prices of
live stock for a few days at a time.
So IndC the market reports Will SNOW
prices much higher than the state of
the trade will warrant thereby inducing
owners to simultaneously make large
shipments, and, by reason of the result
ing large offerings, the defendants OBJ
tain live stock at prices much less than
it would bring in the regular way of
trade.
1t is also alleged they have engaged in
and intend to continue an unlawful COM
bination and conspiracy to arbitrarily.
from time to time, raise, lower and fix
prices, and to maintain uniform prices
at which they will sell directly, or
through their agents, fresh meats to
dealers and consumers. holding secret,
periodical meetings and agreeing upon
the prices to be adopted and enforced
until at subsequent meeting the same
may be changed, restricting and curtail-
ing the quantities of goods shipped
whenever necessary to the maintaining
of the prices fixed by imposing against
each other penalties establishing a rule
for the giving of credits to dealers and
the conduct of their business with penal
ties for violations, keeping a 'black list
of delinquents and refusing to sell to
them.
The bill charges further that, in viola
ton of the act of congress, the defend
ants have made and imposed arbitrarily
uniform charges for carriage for deliv-
cry, when no such charges have been
customary in the trade, or would be
made but for the combination and con-
spiracy, thereby increasing the charges
for meats to dealers and consumers.
That they have made arrangements
and agreements with officers and agents
of common carriers to receive by means
of rebates and other devices, unlawful
rates for transportatio and have thus
monopolized and, unless restrained, will
continue to monopolize the commerce in
live stock and fresh meats.
An Injunction is therefore prayed, en-
joining the defendants and their agents
and attorneys from continuing any of
these unlawful proceedings, and from at
tempting to monopoplize the commerce.
A discovery of the books, papers, etc,
is asked, as we'll a subpoena for the
defendants to appear and answer under
oath.
PASSED AWAY.