The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-28
TRUST ARRA|GNED
Government Files a Bill Fo: an IL
junction Against the Packers.
LAW VIOLATED At EVERY STAGE

Armour. Morris. Swim. cudahy and Their
Associates Declared Partners in Illegal
csmbIus to Raise Food Priess-"Abnor-
NAL, Arbitrary and Unreasonable Reg.
ulatious" to Hsrass the Public.
Chicago.-The petition Of the United
States against Swift & Co. and others.
In which an Injunction Is sought to
restrain the firms comprising the al
legged Beef Trust from continuing the
unlawful operations In which they are
charged with being engaged. was filed
in the Federal Circuit Court here. The
respondent firms are accused Of vio-
latIng the antitrust law at every stage
in the line of communication between
the stock raiser and the consumer.
The complaint Is against Swift &
Co.. the Cudahy Packing Company
the Hammond Packing Company. Ar
mour 6 Co.. the Armour Packing Com.
pany. the G.. II. Hammond Company.
Schwarzschild 6 Sulzberger. Nelson
Morris 6 Co., and the individuals com.
posing these corporations and firms.
The first three paragraphs of the
petition are formal and set forth that
the operations Of the respondents are
conducted In the different States and
Territories Of the Union and In the Dis.
trict Of ColumbIa-this presumably for
the purpose Of establishing their amen.
ability to the Federal law.
Paragraph four alleges that the re-
spondents control sixty per cent. OF the
total volume of trade and commerce
In fresh meats In the United States.
having during the year 1901 purchased
and slaughtered 100000 cattle. 5.OOO..
600 sheep. and 100000 hogs.
In the succeeding paragraphs 1t Is
alleged. first, that the respondents have
engaged In, and intend to continue. an
unlawful combination and conspiracy
to restrict competition by insructing
their purchasing agents to refrain
from bidding against each other. "ex.
cept perfunctorily and without good
faith" thus inducing and compelling
owners of live stock to part with the
same at prices less than they would re.
ceive II such bidding were really COM
petitive."
Second, that purchasing agents are
instructed to put up prices from time
to time, so that the market reports will
show prices much higher than the state
Of trade will warrant, thereby inducing
owners Of stock to ship hurriedly In
the delusive hope Of beneating By the
apparent advance, the purchasing
agents being thus enabled to secure
bargains.
Third, that secret meetings are held
at which prices are arbitrarily agreed
upon. and that q ''black list" OF delin-
Quents--or dealers who fail to maintain
prices-is kept: and that to such DELHI
quents sales are refused.
Fourth. that uniform charges for
carriage and delivery have been agreed
upon. when no such charges are or
have been customary.
Fifth. that preferential treatment Is
secured from railroad companies by
means Of rebates and other devices.
Sixth, that a conspiracy exists among
the respondents and between them
and the railroads to obtain a monopoly
Of the supply and distribution OF fresh
meats in the United States, and ship
nent to foreign countries.
The petition goes on to speak Of "ab-
normal, arbitrary and unreasonable
regulations" affecting the business
from the shipment Of the live stock
from the plains to the fnal distribution
of the meat to the consumer"
Wherefore. q perpetual Injunction Is
prayed, and an order for the .produc'
ton Of books and documents, and such
further relief as equity may require.