The Tucson citizen., 1902-05-23
SHAM FIGHT ON BEEF TRUST,


days ago that the Roosevelt admins
tration was going TO bring criminal
proceedings against the members OF
! the beef trust, but instead of that, all
that is asked is an injunction against
/ the continuance OF violations of the
/ law by the trust. Ii successful this
would only stop violations of law in
the future. and not punish the offend
ers for past violations, Why should
they not be punished as other Law
breakers?
The bill filed charges against the de-
fendant members Of the trust that in
order TO restrain competition among
themselves they have directed and re-
quired their agents at the various
stock yards to refrain from bidding
against each other. except perfuncto
rily and without good faith, when
making purchases of live stock, and by
this means inducing and compelling
tHS oWuelS W pait Will IL o. NO"
prices than they would receive II the
bidding were really competitive. In
further violation of the act they have
engaged In an unlawful combination
and conspiracy among themselves for
bidding up through their agents, the
prices OF live stock, for few days at
time, 80 that the market reports VIII
show prices much higher than the
state of trade will warrant. thereby In
ducing owners to simultaneously make
large shipments. and. by reason of the
resulting large offerings. the defend
ants obtain I've stock at prices much
less than 1t would bring In the reg
ular way of trade These acts are
each punishable by fine of $4,000 and
Imprisonment for one year Why not
enforce the law?
The bill further charges that they
have engaged in an unlawful combina-
ton to arbitrarily. from time TO time,
raise. lower and fix prices. and to
maintain prices at which they will sell,
directly or through their agents, fresh
meats to dealers and consumers. hold
ing secret periodical meetings and
agreeing upon the prices to be adopted
and enforced until at a subsequent
meeting the same may be changed,
restricting and curtailing the guam
titles OF goods shipped whenever
necessary to the maintaining Of the
prices fixed by imposing against each
other penalties. establishing a rule for
the giving of credits to dealers and the
conduct of their business, with pen
alties for violations, keeping a black
book" for delinquents and refusing to
sell to them. These offenses are pun
ishable by fine OF S. 900 and imprson-
ment for one year. Why not enforce
the law?
The bill further charges that the de-
PENDANTS have made and imposed ar
bitrarily uniform charges for carriage
for delivery. when no such charges
have been customary In the trade or
would be made but for the combina-
tion and conspiracy, thereby increasing
the charge of meats to dealers and
consumers that they have made ar
mngements and agreements with Off
GERS and agents Of common carriers to
| receive, by means of rebates and other
devices, unlawful rates for transporta-
! tiOn, and have thus monopolized, and
unless restrained will continue to
monopolize the commerce in live stock
and fresh meats. These offenses are
| punishable by fine Of $1,000 and i'm
prisonment for on year Why not
enforce the law?
| These men care nothing for njunc-
! ton or litigation. The only thing
that would affect them is imprison-
ment Why do not the authorities
treat them as other law breakers? Is
| 1t because they are all Republicans
and liberal contributors to Republican
campaign funds?