Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-14

afternoon. The bill reached Chicago
direct from Attorney General Knox.
The bill of complaint is against
Swift and company, the Cudahy Pack
ing company. the Hammond Packing
company, Armour u company, the
Armour Packing company, the G. H.
Hammond company, Schwarzschilds
Il Sulzberger, Nelson, Morris &
company and the individuals compos-
ing these corporations and firms. 1t
declares that they have been, and are
now engaged in the business of buying
live stock ut stock yards throughout
the United States, and slaughtering
such live stock ut places maintained
for such purpose; that they are also
engaged in the business of selling
fresh meats to dealers and consumers,
and shipping these meats over the
lines of railroad companies serving as
common carriers.
Control 60 Per Cent, of Trade.
The defendants, it is alleged, control
about sixty per cent. of the total vol
ume of the trade, having, during 1901.
purchased, slaughtered, sold and
shipped four million cattle, five million
sheep and six million hogs in VIOLA
ton of the provision of IAN act to
| protect trade and commerce against
unlawful restraints and monopolies,'
:, and In order to restrain competition
among themselves they have directed
and required their agents at the vari
GUS stock yards to refrain from bid
| ding against each other, except per-
| functOrily and without good faith,
when making purchases of live stock,
and by this means inducing and COM
polling the owners to part with II at
less prices then they would receive II
the bidding We're really competitive.
In further violation of the act they
have engaged in. and intend to con-
tinue. an unlawful combination and
conspiracy among themselves for
bidding up, through their agents. the
prices of live stock for few dnys at
a time, so that the market reports will
show prices much higher than the
state of the trade will warrant there
by inducing owners to simultaneously
make large shipments, and, by reason
of the resulting large offerings. the
defendants obtain live stock Mt prices
much less than it would bring in the
regular way of trade.
Unlawful Combination.
1t is also alleged they have engaged
In and intend to continue an unlawful
combination and conspiracy to arbi-
trarily, from time to time. raise, lower,
and fix prices, and to maintain uni
form prices ut which they will sell
directly or through their owners, fresh
meats to dealers and consumers hold
ing secret. periodical meetings and
agreeing upon the prices to be adopted
and enforced until at 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, es-
establishing rule for the credits to
dealers and the conduct of their bus
mess with penalties for violations.
keeping 'black list of delinquents
and refusing to sell to them. The bill
charges further that, in violation of
the act of congress. the defendants
have made and imposed arbitrarily
uniform charge for carriage for de-
livery, when no such charges have
been customary in the trade. or would
be made but for the combination and
conspiracy, thereby Increasing the
charges for meats to dealers and con-
sumers; that they have made arrange
1nents and agreements with officers
and agents of common carriers to re
ceive by means of rebates and other
devices. unlawful rates for trans
portation, and have thus monopolized,
and. unless restrained, will continue
to monopolize the commerce in live
stock and fresh meats.
Injunction Is Asked.
An Injunction is therefore prayed,
enioining the defendants and their
agents and attorneys from continuing
any of these unlawful proceedings,
and from attempting to monopolize
the commerce. A discovery of the
books, papers, cts, is asked, rs well
as subpoenae for the defendants to
appear and answer under oath.