The Topeka state journal., 1902-05-10
FIGHT OPENS.
Injunction Proceedings Begun
Against Beef Trust.
Attorney General Knox Files
Bill in Chicago.

Chicago. May 10-The second step
in the investigation Of the so-called beef
trust was taken today by the filing with
the clerk OF the United States circuit
court of the bill for an injunction pre-
pared by Attorney General Knox. U. s.
District Attorney Bethea and Special
Counsel VIM A. Day. The document
was handed to the clerk by Mr.. Bethea
and the clerk stamped it and entered
it on the records. The application for an
injunction base upon the allegations
to the bill will be made in the y. S.
circuit court probably within ten days.
The bill Of complaint is against Swift
& Co., the Cudahy Packing company,
the Hammond Packing company, Ar
Tnour Packing company, the G. H Han
mond company, SchWarzschild & Sulz-
berger, Nelson, Morris & company, and
the individuals composing these corpor-
It declares that they have been and
are now engaged in the business OF
buying live stock at stock yards
throughout the United States and
slaughtering such live stock at plants
maintained for that purpose; that they
are also engaged in the business Of sell
ing fresh meats to dealers and eonsum-
ers, 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
shipped four million cattle, five mil
lion sheep and six million hogs.
In violation of the provisions of an
act to protect trade and commerce
against unlawful restraints and mo-
nOpOlies." and in order to restrain COM
petition among themselves. they have
directed and required their agents at
the various stock yards to refrain from
bidding 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
nave engaged in and intended to con-
ttnue, an unlawful combination and
conspiracy among themselves for bid
ding up, through their agents, the prices
of livestock for a few days at a time
so that the reports will show prices
much higher than the state of the trade
to simultaneously make large ship
ments, and, by reason of the resulting
large offerings. the defendants obtain
livestock at prices much less than it
would bring in the regular way OF trade.
It is also alleged that they have en-
gagged in and intend to continue an
unlawful CON bination and conspiracy
to arbitrarily, from time to time. raise.
lower, and fix prices. and to maintain
uniform prices at which they win sell
directly or through their agents, fresh
meats to dealers and consumers. hold
ing secret, periodical meetings and
agreeing upon the prices to be adopted
and enforced until at a subsequent
meeting the same may be changed, re-
! strieting and curtailing the quantities
! Of goods shipped whenever necessary to
the maintaining of prices fixed by i'm
posing against each other penalties and
establishing a rule for the giving Of
credit to dealers and the conduct Of
their business with penalties for viola
tions, keeping a black list of delin-
quents and refusing to sell to them.
The bill charges further that, in viola
ton of the act of congress. the defendants
have made and imposed arbitrarily uni
form charges for carriage for delivery
when no such charges have been Gus
tomary in the trade or would be made but
for the combination and conspiracy, there
by increasing the charges for meats to
| dealers and consumeras that they have
made arrangements and agreements with
the officers and agents of common car
riers to receive by means OF rebates and
other devices, unlawful rates for tranSpOr-
tation. and have thus monopolized, and,
unless restrained, viii continue to monOpo-
lie the commerce in live stock and fresh
meats.
An injunction Is therefore prayed for. en-
joining the defendants and their agents
and attorneys from continuing any or
these unlawful proceedings ana fIC~s al
tempts to m0nOpOlize the commerce A
discovery of the books. papers. ETC. is
asked as well as a subpoena for the de-
PENDANTS to appear and answer under oath.