The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-05-15
BEEF. TRUST BILL
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THROUGH
ATTORNEY BETHEA,
Begins It's Action at Chicago, tor an Injunction
Against the Beef Trust-Proceedsns are
Designed to Destroy the Conspiracy. Al.
legged to Exist for the Purpose Of Control.
ing the Meat Trade.

Chicago, May l2.-With the full
approval of Attorney General P. G.
Knox. representing the national govern
ment, District Attorney S. G. Bethea,
filed with the clerk of the federal court
here bill for an injunction sweeping in
character, designing to destroy the
troll the meat trade of the United States.
The original of the bill was recorded the
moment filed, and was at once placed in
the official files of the court clerks office.
At the same time District Attorney
Bethea served notice that at p. M,
May 20, he will appear before Federal
Judge Grosscup and ask for temporary
injunction against the packers and their
representatives, under the Sherman
antitrust law.
When the case shall come up for hear
ing, May 20, District Attorney Bethea
will be present in person to place his
arguments in support of motion for a
temporary Injunction. He will be assist
ed by Attorneys G. B. Morrison and
Oliver Paigin from his Office and proba-
oily by Special Counsel w. A. Day.
What Defendants Will Do.
What the defendants will do now that
the government has begun the long
taled-of proceeding, was forecasted by
one of their representatives. They will
not make fight on May 20. according to
this authority. They will submit to the
entry of an order enjoining them from
the acts complained of in the bill, and
will promise to refrain from further al
legged violation of the law until the time
of the next hearing. That probably will
be about June 20. Before the latter date
they will have filed demurrer in which
the insufficiency of the governments
petition will be alleged. This demurrer,
it is said, will raise an important point
under the Interstate commerce regula-
tons, probably to the effect that the
shipping of meats to ones own agent in
another state under a certain agreement
is not interstate commerce. In the event
that the demurrer shall be overruled, the
packers will still have the privilege of
filing an answer, which will necessitate
further hearing on the merits of the
governments charges. If, on the other
hand, the demurrer shall be sustained,
the federal attorney can file an amended
bill.
Mr.. Bethsa's Action
Copies of the governments bill were
received at Mr.. Bethea's Office Saturday,
through the mail, by special delivery.
The district attorney and his assistants,
then made out notice to the defendants
counsel, and, after swearing to the bill
Mr.. Bethea filed it.
The petition charges conspiracy. un-
lawful combination, blacklisting, illegal
carriage charges, creating false market
prices, illegally depressing the market
and accepting railway rebates. All of
the principa packing companies organ
lied under the laws of New Jersey,
Michigan, New York and Illinois, are
made parties to the defense, and all are
residents of Illinois, save Mr.. Sulz-
berger and Mr.. Noyes. of New York, and
F.. G. Swift. of Boston.
The government recites that their
plants and yards are at Chicago, Kansas
City, Omaha, st. Joseph, Sioux City,
East St. Louis, Cudahy, Wis, and Ham
mOnd Ind