The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-05-17
THE BEEF SUIT IS BEGUN.
p.uer. Filed In Federal Court by
United states Attorney Bethea-
Restraining Order Asked.

Chicago, May IA restraining or
der was asked late Saturday against
leading packers, including J. ogden
Armour, Nelson Morris, G. +. 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 a "beef combine. Inc
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 II make n long list.
synopsis of the bill follows:
The bill Of complaint Is against SWIFT
& Co. the Cudahy Packing company.
the Hammond Packing company. Armour
& Co., the Armour Packing company
| the G. III. Hammond company, Schwar]s
| child a Sulzberger. Nelson Morris
| Co.. and the individuals composing these
| corporations and firms.
/ Z
are now engaged in the business OF buy
| ing live stock at stock yards through
out the United States and slaughterin8
| such live stock at plants maintained LOT
that purpose that they are also engaged
| in the business of selling fresh meats 10
dealers and consumers. [and shipping
| these meats over the lines or railroad
/ companies serving as common carriers.
| The defendants, 1t is alleged. control
! about 60 per cent. of the total volume OF
the trade, having. during 1901. purchased,
| slaughtered, sold and shipped 4,Ooo,VV
cattle, 100000 sheep and 100000 hogs.
In violation of the provisions OF AN
| act to protect trade and commerce
against unlawful restraints and monop-
olies," and in order to restrain compe-
| tition among themselves, they have d.
rected and required their agents at tne
various stock yards to refrain from DID
ding against each other. except per-
functorily and without good faith, when
| making purchases of live stock. ana py
this means inducing and compelling the
owners to part with 1t 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 n few days at time.
so that the market reports will show
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
Il would bring in the regular way OF
trade.
1t is also alleged they have engaged In
and intend to continue an unlawful COM
binaton and conspiracy to arbitrarily
from time to time, raise, lower and fiji
prices. and to maintain uniform prices
at which they will sell directly, oil
through their agents. fresh meats &c
dealers and consumers. holding secret
periodical meetings and agreeing upor
the prices to be adopted and enforced
until at a 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 agains
each other penalties establishing a rule
for the giving of credits to dealers ant
the conduct OF their business with penal
ties for violations. keeping a black list
OF delinduents and refusing to sell t
them.
The bill charges further that. In viola
ton of the act Of congress. the defend
ants have made and imposed arbitraril!
| uniform charges for carriage for deliv
cry. when no such charges have bee
customary In the trade, or would b
made but for the combination and con
spiracy. thereby increasing the charge
, for meats to dealers and consumers.
That they have made arrangement
and agreements with officers and agent
OF common carriers to receive by mean
, OF rebates and other devices, unlawful
rates for transportation. and have thu
monopolized and. unless restrained. vii
:. continue to monopolize the commerce 4
Y live stock and fresh meats.
I An Injunction is therefore prayed. en-
. joining the defendants and their agent
and attorneys from continuing any o
: these unlawful proceedings, and from al
, tempting to monopoplze the commerce
, discovery OF the books, papers. etc
Is asked. as well as subpoena for tn
defendants to appear and answer unde
oath.