The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-02
70 Be FILED IN SHORT TINE
Said to Be a Remarkably IN
triCate Instrument.
DRAWN WITH GREAT CARE
In Terms Which Closely Follow the
Sherman Law, It Charges Defendants
With Maintaining an Illegal Co1nbina-
ton II Restraint OF Trade

CHICAGO. May 2.-The formal bill for
an injunction. by which the United States
Government viii seek TO throw light on
the iHneruost workings OF the alleged
beef trust, has been completed.
It awaits only the approval of Attorney
General Knox before filing in the United
States circuit court.
As soon as officially approved. the legal
indictment. said TO be one OF the most in
tricate and carefully drawn in the his
terry CT the Department CT Justice. viii be
made known to the packers charged with
maintaining the Illegal combination
They VIII then be summoned into court
and compelled to make answer TO the
charges
The bill SIS drafted by United States At
torney s. 4. Bethea and Special Counsel
". 4. Day. and now in their possession,
Is brought in the name of the United
States of America ex rel, Attorney Gen
eraI P s. Knox, and is directed against
the following defendants:
-Armour K Co, Nelson Morris & Co.
Swift & Co. the c. H. Hammond Packing
Company, the Cudahy Packing Company,
and the Schwarzschiid & SuIzbergeT Co
Follows Sherman Laws Terms
Closely following the terms Of the Sber-
man antitrust law. technically known as
"an act TO protect trade and commerce
against unlawful restraints and monopo-
lies" the bill begins with the formal ale
CATION Of jurisdictIonaI powers Of the
United states circuit court and then sets
forth the charges against the packers.
Il IS charged that the defendants named
have entered into and are maintaining a
combination, agreement, OF trust in re
straInt OF trade and commerce among
the several States and that the said
agreement or combination is in direct VIC
lation Of the terms ana provisions or the
act making such combinations illegal
usIp Is alleged that the defendants have
become parties and stiH are parties to an
agreement or combination. which, in ef-
feet, provides for the absolute control Of
the beef trade IN AID between the several
States in restraint OF trade and commerce
between said several States.
Illegal Combination Charged.
It is charged that the defendants named
have entered into and are maintaining an
agreement or combination to raise or
lower prices OF beef, which, in effect, is
IN restraint Of trade and commerce he
tween the several States; that the fixing
Of prices in effect creates a monopoly IN
the beef trade, and the same is alleged 10
be IL restrain Of trade and commerce be-
tween the several States.
It Is Claimed that the mains tenanee Of
such an agreement OF combination in re-
straint OF trade and commerce stiles com
petition, creates a trust. and works great
hardshiPs on legitimate trade and com
merce-
It is alleged that the agreement OF com
bination as entered into and maintained
fxes prices OF the products handled with
out regard 10 the supply and demand, and
is II eject IN direct restraint Of trade
and commerce
It Is also charged that the packers
named as defendants have created and are
maintaining a biacklisting system under
and By which the retailers or those who
by the customs Of the beef trade are
dependent for their products on the de-
PENDANTS are compelled TO submit TO Ger
tain and arbitrary rules. or in effect be
forced out Ct the beef trade.
AeltTaIuS Legitimate 1IdQe.
It is claimed that there is in existence
an agreement OF combination which in
effect provides for the regulation and dis
tribution CT beef products throughout the
several States; that in effect such an
agreement and combination prevent. the
legitimate and usual competition vital %
trade and commerce in and between
States, and is in restraint thereof
It IS also alleged that the packers OF
packing firms made defendants have
entered into an agreement or combination
among themselves and with certain rail-
road companies engaged in the general
traffic business IN and between the sew
eral States. uDaer and BY which the de-
PENDANTS are enabled 20 secure for them
selves certain concessions OF rebates and
favors denied other patrons Of the said
railroads and other individuals and firms
engaged in the handling Of beef products.
and that the same Is II TsS>rAInt OF trade
and commerce.
Specific Instances Cited.
The bill sets out specific instances Of
the alleged violations Of the law, and is
one OF the longest legal documents Of its
nature ever prepared for filing in the
United States circuit court.
relief as Is decreed viii be granted is
substantially as follows:
IN consideration whereof and mas
much as your orator cs=, only have ade-
quate relief in the premises in this hon
Orabie court whore matters Of this nature
are properly coEnizabis and Telieyable.
your orator pTays that this honorable
court may order, adjudge and decree that
the said agreement or combination be-
tween the said defendants be dissolved.
and that the said defendants, and ali and
each Of them, be enioined and prohibited
from further agreeing, combining and con
spring and acting together to maintain
rules aad agreements and prices on beef
products 10 the restraint OF trade and com
meree between the seve-al States and
theE praying that the defendants be en-
Joined and prohibited from doing the other
illegal acts set forth II the body Of the
BILL