The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-11
GOVERNMENT NOT TO REST
MANY OTHER COMBINATIONS MAY
BE INVESTIGATED.
President Roosevelt Said To BE Deter
mined to Probe the Anthracite
Mining Monopoly.

CHICAGO, May 1O.-With the full ap-
proval of Attorney General p. c. Knox,
representing the national government, Dis
trict Attorney S. g. Bethea this evening
filed with the clerk of the Federal Cir
cult Court here a bill for an injunction,
sweeping in character designed 10 destroy
the alleged giant conspiracy to illegally
control the meat trade of the United States.
The original Of the bill was recorded the
moment it was filed and was at once placed
in the official files of the court clerks Of
flee. AT the same time District Attorney
Bethea served notice that at d. m May
20 he will appear before Federal Judge
Grosscup and ask for temporary injunc-
tion against the packers and their repre-
sentatives under the Sherman national anti
trust law. When the case shall come up
for hearing May 20 District Attorney
Bethea will be present i'm person TO present
his arguments in support of a motion for
a temporary injunction. He will be assisted
by Attorneys c. b. Morrison and Oliver
Pagin, from his office, and probably by
Special Counsel w. a. Day.
What the defendants will do, now that
the government has begun the long-talked-
of proceedings, was forecasted by one OF
their representatives. They will not make
a fight May %. 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 alleged violations 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 govern
ments petition will be alleged. This de-
murrer, II is said. will raise an important
point under the interstate-commerce regu-
lations. probably 10 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 a
further hearing of the merits OF the govern
ment's charges II, on the other hand the
demurrer shall be sustained. the federal
attorney general can file an amended bill.
SUMMARY OF THE CHARGES.
Copies of the governments bill were
ceived at Mr. Betheas Office from Washing
ton to-day through the mail by special de-
livery. The district attorney and his
sistants then made out notice to the de-
fendants' counsel and after swearing to the
bill Mr.. Bethea filed II. The petition
charges conspiracy, unlawful combination.
blacklisting, illegal carriage charges. an
/ illegal credit agreement, creating false
market prices, Illegally depressing the mar
ket and accepting railway rebates. All Of
the principal packing companies organized
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. Sulzberger and Mr.. Noyes, Of New
\ York, and +. c. Swift OF Boston The
government recites that their plants and
/ yards are at Chicago, Omaha. Sioux City.
1 St. Joseph, Kansas City, East st. Louis.
I Cudahy Wis, and Hammond, Ind.
The bill Of complaint is against Swift &
/ Co, the Cudahy Packing Company. the
/ Hammond Packing Company. Armour &
| Co, the Armour Packing Company. the G.
/ H. Hammond Company. Schwarzschld *
/ Sulzberger. Nelson Morris & Co. and the
/ individuals composing these corporations
and firms. II declares they have been and
! now are engaged in the business Of buying
live stock at stockyards throughout the
United States and slaughtering such live
\ stock at plants maintained for that pur-
pose; that they are also engaged I'm the
]
I ard consumers. and shipping these meats
over the lines OF railroad companies serv-
( ing as common carriers. The defendants,
( IL is alleged. control about 90 per cent OF
! the total volume OF the trade having. dur
/ ing 1901. purchased. slaughtered. sold and
shipped 100000 cattle 5oo0.coO sheep and
+ 6.Oo0OOO hogs.
/ COMPETITION RESTRICTED.
In violation OF the provisions OF IAN act
10 protect trade and commerce against un-
/ lawful restraints and monopolies." and In
I order to restrain competition among them
selves. they have directed and require their
I agents at the various stockyards to re-
/ frain from bidding against each other. ex-
cept perfunctorily and without good faith,
/ when making purchases OF live stock. and
by this means inducing and compelling the
I others 20 part with II at less prices than
/ they would receive IL the bidding were
really competitive. In further violation OF
the act they have engaged in. and Intend
to continue. an unlawful combination and
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3. COL 81