New-York tribune., 1902-05-21
BEEF TRUST ENJOINED.
MUST NOT REG CLATE PRICES
NOR SUPPLY or NEAT.
PACKERS WILL BE IN CONTEMPT IN.
LESS PRESENT ALLEGED UNIFORM
ARRANGEMENTS CEASE.

ARRANGEMENTS CEASE.
Chicago, May 2O-The temporary Injunction
asked for by the government against the men,
bers of the so-called packers combine is now IN
force. 1t issued this evening by Judpe
Peter s Grosscup after the close of arguments
in the United States Circuit Court room. The
order gives the relief prayed for in the bill filed
by District Attorney Bethea on Nav 10 II is
so wide in its scope that if the packers or their
agents continue their present alleged uniform
arrangements they will be taken into court on
contempt proceedings. and the burden of nroof
VIII be on them TO show that they have not
violated the order in any particular
Little opposition was raised against the po,,
ernment's petition. John s. Miller. for the mack
ers, pointed out some Objectionable clauses
These concerned the alleged agreements for
credit. blacklisting and carriage. Judge Gross
cup thought some of these clauses had been
made too prominent, and he himself drew A
form Of order that pleased both sides
District Attorney Bethea read part Of the bill
before Judge Grosscup interrupted him with
the statement that this would be unnecessary.
as the court was already advised of the charges
made by the government
Mr.. Bethea then filed a number NJ ae7day,,s
Mr. Miller said that while he was not prepared
10 oppose the governments petition he v,as ~
thcrlzed TO submit TO the entry of the order on
behalf Of his clients Solicitor General Richards
mace brief statement in answer to some of
the objections raised by Mr. Miller. and Attor-
ney Day also spoke briefly on behalf of the gov
eminent ana the order was taken away by Judge
GrosscuP for amendment and lated was filed
Inc oe1endants have until August TO make
reply 10 the complaint. Mr.. Miller said TO-
night that he could not tell whether demurrer.
q plea will he
hrst Is most likely. The subpenas served re-
Gently on the defendants commanded them 10
Me their appearances separately before July :
TERMS OF THE INJUNCTION.
The order as amended and entered by Judge
Grosscup is in part as follows:
Il The &c court having heard the arguments of coun-
SCI; ana being fully advised in the premises doth
restraining. until the final hearing or frb dTa
oI TINS TINS court the said defendants Uhe court here
repestedy published. and each of them. their re-
sp, agents ana attorneys and all other per-
their authority. that Of any Of them from en-.
teTlng INTO; taking part in or performing any con-
eneGt en- & q which VIII be- as 10 trade and commerce
among the several States. Territories and the
curing their respective agents from refraining to
o assIsc eaeh 1ther ln the purchase of live
from bidding against each other such sales or
ir rc IaISing az & or covering & prices or fixing
either directly through heir respective agents
to such markets and agents. or by imposing penal
and maintaining uniform rules for the gi4inE 6f
credit to dealers in such matters by Imposing
meats to dealers and consumers. or by any other
method or device, the purpose and effect of which
is TO restrain trade and commerce, aforesaid.
The injunction proceeds to prohibit the pack
ers from accepting rebates from the railroads
MANY AFFIDAvITs PRESENTED.
rba
Bethea, when the case was opened consisted of
a bulky batch of affidavits collected from per-
sons formerly connected with the packing
houses that have been made defendants in the
suits. The most important of these is the affi-
davit of Daniel w Meredith of Jersey City
y. ]. For six years he manager for Ar
mour & Co. at Milwaukee, and manager in
Philadelphia for three years. Prior to working
for Armour & Co. he was with Swift & Co.
Since 1893 he swears, six general managers
for the big companies have been accustomed to
meet at least once a week in the city of New
York 10 reconcile differences between them
selves concerning operating their business and
10 consider what prices they should place for
the ensuing week on the meat products which
should be sold in that territory, and for the pur-
pose Of considering the quantity of meats which
each concern had on hand; and when the neces-
sites Of the trade would require they would
agree 10 curtain tnelr shipments or meat from
Chicago, their design and purpose being to limit
the quantity of meats in sight at New York and
adjacent points and raise the prices"
William c. Rider that he was formerly
with the Fairbank Canning Company a cor
poration owned controlled by Nelson Morris
q Co. In 1885 he transcribed, he said. in his
affidavit. a signed agreement between Morris
d Co., Armour & Co. and Swift & Co. pro-
VdIng that representatives Of the signers were
10 meet specified times upon call of an
appointed arbitrator; that prices should be main
tained that list Of discharged employees should
be kept and fine of 81 900 imposed for viola
uons of the agreement. He deposed that he
had actual knowledge that the agreement was
carried out
Charles E Holland. Of Brooklyn. swOre that
in 1900 he employed by Nelson Morris G.
Co. and that it his duty TO translate tele-
grams received in cipher These kilograms
showed, he said, the existence of agreement.
4 code book and letter press copy book. both
said 10 belong TO the Cudahy Packing Com
pany. were submitted in connection with this
affidavit
Charles II. Brumer. Of Baltimore; Frank NJ
Slack. Of Baltimore: Samuel /. Kern. manager
for the Cudahy company in New-York: Charles
&. Carroll, of Washington: William A. Brice. OF
Baltimore, and Emma b. Myers. formerly a
stenographer for Swift & Co, all sWore TO
knowledge Of an agreement to maintain prices
and Of meetings held to carry out the terms Of
that agreement
William II. II. Hoover. inspector Of meats and
food for the government I'm the District of Co
lumbia. swears that there is absolute uniform
ity of prices among the packers agents, and
there is no sign Of competition.