The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-02-03
Decision Against
Beef Trust.
CRIMINAL PROCEED INGS
NEXT.
Packers Have Failed to Obey
Injunction Of Lower Court
and May be Heavily Pun
ished for Contempt.

ETOUdDlN tue mOSG ueClSlN6 ana
far reaching victory ever won by
the Federal Government in legal
proceedings against a trust was
scored today. when the Supreme
Court handed down q unanimous
decision sustaining the validity
of the injunction granted by
Judge GrOsScup, of Chicago,
against the Beef Trust.
1t is believed by members of
the administration that the gen.
eral moral effect of todsy's de
clsiOn will be marked and Salu.
tary in fields other than those
Immediately covered by t
through the demonstration it af.
fords that the Federal Govern.
ment has in its hands weapons
which can reach even the strong
est and most adroitly conceived
and managed combinations of
men who seek to establish prac-
teal mOnopOlies in any line of
commerce.
Ii is the understanding, more
over, that the government is fully
resolved to follow up the advan
tage it gained through the de-
cisiOn by beginning without delay
criminal proceedings against the
chief promoters of the Beef
Trust. There is no doubt that
the Department of Justice and
Labor have in their possession
ample proof that the trust has
continued its business without
change or method, regardless of
the injunction issued against it
many months ago by Judge Gross
cup. The agents of the Depart
meut of Commerce who inveSti.
gated the trust last summer col.
lected a mass of evidence con-
corning its operations.
This evidence shows in the
minueSt detail, it is SAID, the
methods the trust has pursued in
all branches of its business and
establishes the fact that there
was no change in it's aims or pro
cedure because of the GrOSScup
injunction. The trust has gone
on violating the law in every
particular, as if no injunction
had been issued against. not only
leaving itself liable to the penal
ties provided for such violation
of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission Act, but the more severe
punishment visited for fragrant
contempt of court.
Nearly month ago, it is said.
the administration became con
WINGED that the Supreme Court
would uphold the validity of the
Grosscup injunction. Steps were
then taken looking to Immediate
further proceedings against the
trust when the decision was
handed down. District Attorney
Bethea, of Chicago. was called
to Washington and spent two
days here in consultation with
the President and Attorney Gen.
eral Moody. The purpose of these
consultations, it is understood,
was to prepare the way for Grim
inal proceedings against the
chief promoters and active man.
ayers of the trust
Attorney. General Moody would
not say what further steps the
government would take in the
case, but it is the general belief
here that a move along the
lines indicated will be made
speedily. The administration has
been placed in poSitioL of great
advantage to deal crushing
blow to all trusts by today'S de
cision, aud If it does not follow
it mp by closing in for q final
struggle with the gigantic Beef
Combine, there will be general
surprise.
The opinion of the court was
handed down by Justice Holmes,
and is based chiefly on three
points, which will hereafter pro.
hibit the Beef Trust from doing
these things:
l. Operating as a com bination
to prevent competition for the
purchase of cattle. This will
benefit the farmers and ship
pers of cattle. In his argument
before the Court Attorney Gen
eral Moody held that a steer de-
llvered at the stock yards in
Chicago is an original package
under the Interstate Commerce
act.
2. Effectiug a combination TO
control the selling price of meat
products. This will benefit con
Sumers.
3. Combinations between the
packers and railroads by which
discriminating freight rates can
be obtained. This will benefit
both the shippers aud consumers.
Some notifications in the Ian
guage of Judge Grosscup's in
junction are made, but they dc
not change its effect