Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-15
CHARGE CONSPIRACY
Petition Against Beef Packers on
File.
The CASE WILL Be HEARD MAY 20

The CASE WILL Be HEARD MAY 20
All the Principal Packing Companies
in New Jersey, Michigan, New York
and Illinois Are Made Defendants
Resume of the Charges.
The petition against the alleged beef
trust now on file in Chicago, which
will be heard May 20, charges conspir-
acy, unlawful combination, blacklist
ing, illegal carriage charges, an illegal
credit agreement, creating false mar
ket prices, illegally depressing the
market and accepting railway rebates.
All of the principal packing compo-
MES organized under the laws of New
Jersey, Michigan, New York and Illi-
nois are made parties to the defense,
and all are residents of Illinois, save
MIR. Sulzberger and Mr.. Moves Of
New York, and E. C. Swift, of Boston.
The government recites that their
plants and yards are at Chicago, Oma-
ha, Sioux City, St.Joseph, Kansas City,
East st. Louis, Cudahy, Wis, land Ham
mond, Ind.
The bill of complaint is against
Swift & Co., the Cudahy Packing com
pany, the Hammond Packing Compa-
ny, Armour G Co., the Armour Pack
ing Company, the G. H. Hammond
Company, Schwarzchild & Sulzberger,
Nelson Morris & Co. and the individu-
ais composing these corporations and
firms.
1t now 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
selling fresh meats to dealers and con-
sumers and shipping these meats over
the lines of railroad companies serv-
ing as common carriers The defend.
ants, it is alleged, control about 60 per
cent of the total volume of the trade,
having, during 1901, purchased, slaugh-
tered, sold and shipped 100000 cattle,
100000 sheep and 100000 hogs. In
violation of the provisions of can 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 bed
ding We're really competitive In fur
| Their violation of the act they have en-.
gagged in. and intend to continue, an
unlawful combination and conspiracy
among themselves for bidding up
through their agents the prices of live
stock for 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 re-
sulting large offerings, the defendants
obtain live stock at prices much less
than it would bring in the regular way
of trade.
| 1t is also alleged that they have en-
gagged in and intend to continue an un.
lawful combination and conspir.
acy arbitrarily, from time to
time, to 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 a subsequent meeting the same
may be changed, restricting and cur
failing the quantities of goods shipped
whenever necessary to the maintaining
of prices fixed by imposing against
each other penalties establishing a
rule for the giving of credit to dealers
and to the conduct of their business,
with penalties for violations, keeping a
| blacklist" Of delinquents and refusing
to sell to them. The bill charges fur.
Their that, in violation of the act of con
gress, the defendants have made and
imposed arbitrarily uniform charges
for carriage for delivery, when no such
charges have been customary in the
trade, or would be made but for the
coordination and conspiracy, thereby
increasing the charges for meats TIC
\ dealers and consumers that they have
made arrangements and agreements
l"Ltu d6Sllo VI COllulOI
carriers to receive by means of rebates
and other devices unlawful rates fol
transportation. and have thus monopo
lized, and, unless restrained, will con
tinue to monopolize, the commerce ii
live stock and fresh meats.
An injunction is therefore prayed
: enjoining the defendants and theil
agents and attorneys from continuing
any of these unlawful proceedings ant
from attempting to monopolize the
commerce. An investigation of the
books, papers, ETC., is asked, as we'll as
a subpoena for the defendants to ap
pear and answer under oath.
What the defendants will do was
: forecasted by one of their representa-
tives. They will not make a fight or
May 20, according to this authority
They will submit to the entry of al
order enjoining them from the acts
complained of in the bill, and will
nromise to refrain from further aIleoef