Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1902-05-21
THEDEEF TRUST ARRAIGNED
Government Files a Bill For an In
junction Against the Packers.
LAW VIOLATED AT EVERY STAGE

Associates Declared Partners In Illegal
NAL, Arbitrary and Unrea sonable Reg
ulations" to Harnss tho 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 fled
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 81
Co. the Cudahy Packing Company,
the Hammond Packing Company. Ar
mour q Co.. the Armour Packing Com
pany. the c. III. Hammond Company,
Schwarzscnild * Sulzbcrger. Nelson
Norris IL 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 Columhia-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.
c1,n, .OI
and slaughtered 4.OOO,00 cattle, 5000
600 sheep. and 6.00O,000 hogs.
In the succeeding paragraphs IL Is
alleged. first, that the respondents have
engaged in, ard intend to continue, an
unlawful combination and conspiracy
TO restrict competition by instructing
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 1T prices less than they would re-
ceivc If 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 hurricdly in
the delusive hope of benefiting by the
apparent advance. the purchasing
agents being thus enabled to secure
bargains.
Third, that secret meetings are held
ut which prices are arbitrarily agreed
upon. and that ''black list OF delin-
Quents-or dealers who fail to maintain
prices-is kept; and that to such delin-
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 conspiracy exists among
the respondents and between them
and the railroads to obtain n monopoly
of the supply and distribution of fresh
meats In the United States, and ship
incnt 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 final distribution
OF the meat to the consumer
Wherefore. n perpetual injunction Is
prayed, and an order for the produc-
tion of books and documents, and such
further relief as equity may require.