The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-11
SINS OF BEEF TRUST
SUIT FILED IN CIRCUIT COURT AT
CHICAGO.
HOW COMBINE IS WORKED.
METHODS PLAINLY SET FORTH IN
PETITION.

CattIemen Deceived by Fictitious
Raising and Lowering of Prices
and the Packers, By Not bidding
Against Each Other, Get Cattle at
Their own Prices-Prices ReGu-
lated and Enforced by "A system OF
Fines and FOrfeitures-Cnrtag
UnjustIy Charged to Dealers and
RetaiIers-RaiIrOads Compelled to
Give Heavy Rebates.
Chicago, May 10.-The fight against
the beef trust has been begun. The
suit Of the United States against
Swift & Co, and others, was filed to-
day in the Circuit court of the United
States for the Northern District of
Illinois. 1t is stated in the petition
that the suit is brought under di-
rection of Mr.. Knox. the attorney gen
eral of the United States.
The great packing companies are
named as defendants. 1t is asserted
that these defendants control about
60 per cent. of the meat trade of this
country having purchased and
shipped in, the form of fresh meat
during the year 1901. four million cat
tie, five million sheep, and six mil
lion hogs.
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 Dis
,trict Attorney Bethea served notice
that at p m, May 20, he will appear
before Federal Judge Grosscup and
ask for a temporary injunction against
the packers and their representatives
under the Sherman national antitrust
law.
The suit is entitled THE United
States of America, versus Swift and
Company and others" The leading
charges and allegations are set forth
as follows:
The defendants, in further violation
of law, have engaged in and intend
to continue an unlawful combination
and conspiracy among themselves for
bidding up, through their respective
purchasing agents. the prices of live
stock for few days at a time at the
stock yards and open markets,
so that the market reports will show
prices much higher than the state of
the trade will warrant. and thereby
inducing owners of such live stock in
divers other of the said states and
territories to simultaneously make
large shipments of such live stock from
such other states shd territories to
such stock yards and open markets.
instead of shipping the same to more
natural and advantageous markets and
at more natural and advantageous
times in the due and proper course of
such trade and business, and by this
means and by reason of the resulting
large offerings there of such live stock
(and by thereupon refraining from bid
ding against each other for the same),
obtaining such live stock at prices
much less than it would bring in the
regular way of trade if such combi-
nation and conspiracy were not so
engaged in and continued.
Conspiracy to Control Prices.
The defendants have engaged in and
intend to continue an unlawful combi-
nation and conspiracy to arbitrarily
from time to time raise, lower, and
fix prices, and to maintain uniform
prices at which they will sell, directly
or through their respective agents,
such fresh meats to dealers and con-
sumers throughout the said states and
territories and the District of Column
bia and foreign countries; and that
the arbitrary raising. lowering, fixing,
nd n a ininor of Sl1pb Tripnc in
suance of the said combination and
conspiracy. is being and is to be effect
ed through the action of their agents
and attorneys in secretly hold
ing periodical meetings, and
agreeing upon the prices to be adopted
The said defendants, in violation of
the provisions of an act of Congress,
approved July 2, 1890, entitled, "An act
to protect trade and commerce against
unlawful restraints and monopoles."
and in order to restrain competition
among themselves (Which would other
wise EXIST as to the purchase of live
stock necessary to the production of
the meats produced by them, have en-
gagged in and intend to continue an I'M
lawful combination and conspiracy be-
tween themselves for directing and re-
quiring their respective purchasing
agents at the said several stock yards
markets
where they customarly purchase such
live stock, shipped by the owners
thereof to stock yards and open mar
kets for competitive sale to persons
and corporations engaged in producing
and dealing in fresh meats, to refrain
from bidding against each other, ex-
cept perfunctorily and without good
faith when making purchases of such
live stock on behalf of the said defend
ants respectively, and by this means
inducing and compelling such owners
of such live stock to part with the
same at such stock yards and open
markets at prices less than they would
there receive if such bidding were
really competitive as between the pur-
chasing agents of the said defendants,
and imposing against each other pen
alties for deviations from the prices
so fixed; by notifying each other of
the delinquencies of the dealers, and
keeping what is commonly known as
black list" of delinquents, and re-
fusing to sell meats to delinquents.
ImpOsitiOns Upon Dealers.
The defendants have engaged in and
intend to continue an unlawful combi-
nation and conspiracy to direct and
require their respective agents at and
near many of the markets for fresh
meats to arbitrarily make and impose
uniform charges for carriage for the
delivery upon making sales to dealers
and consumers in those market, Of the
meats shipped to them through the
agents by the defendants. from their
several points of preparation of the
same, when no such charges have been
or are customary in such trade and
commerce. or would be made but for
- "a IRA