Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-31

ll0iIlt Ill
made by the packers
against the bill asking the injunction
said that 'the scheme alleged is 80 vast
that it presents new problem IN plead
inc " and Immediately added that "its
size makes the violation ofthe law more
conspicuous and vet at the same time
makes it impossible to fasten the primer
psl fact to a certain time and place. The
frat section of the Sherman antitrust law
reads Every contract, combination IN
the form ftrust or otherwise, or coz
spiracy in restraint Of trade or comrnerce
among the several states or WITH foreign
nations. is hereby declared 70 be illegal.
Every person who shall make any such
contract or engage ip any such combina-
ton or conspiracy shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor, and on conyic-
ton thereof, shall be punished by fine
not exceeding 50, 900 or by imprisonment
not exceeding one year or by both, said
punishments in the discretion of court. "
The act also provides for equity proceed.
ings to eDjOin such combinations, con-
tracts and conspiraciec, under which
the injunction yesterday was obtained
While generality of charges will support
equity proceedings where a conviction
under criminal proceedings might not
be obtained, more particular proof Of
time and place OF violations OF the laS
being necessary in the latter, it is re-
ported that the President and the Attor-
ney. General are seriously considering
prosecutions OF the packers. District
Attorney Bethea, whs engineered the
Injunction proceeding in Chicago, was
were very recently and conferred
with the President and Attorney
General Moody, at which time it
was suggested the subject OF prose-
cution of the packers was under
consideration In the light of the
Supreme Courts decision, it seems much
more probable that such an undertaking
will be thought feasible. Individual
officers of the corporations which made
the beef trust would prabably not be
affected. The law states that the word
"person" or ''persons" in the act shall
be deemed to include corporations, so
that if for instance the Hammond
Packing Company were prosecuted and
convicted, about the only punishment
which could be imposed would be fine.
1t is not probable that any one would be
sen. to jail.
Your correspondent is authorized to
announce that the administration is
preparing to prosecute the officials of
the "beef trust" criminslly, if possible,
and civilIy if they cannot be hailed into
the criminal tribunals for contempt OF
court. Although Attorney General
Moody does not feel at liberty to an
nounce his future programme in the
premises this decision may be taken as
official. A prominent western Senator
who is very close to the President made
The announcement this afternoon. "Of
course" be said, "the beef trust men
will probably change their tactics as
soon az they can. The decision handed
down by the Supreme Court will prob
ably make them bestir themselves to
alter the way they conduct their busi-
ness. If they do the government will have
10 collect new evidence. But that will
not be a difficult proceeding. Testi-
monv of the the most convincing nature
will be forthcoming when the Depart
ment of Justice needs it. The agents of
the Bureau Of Corporations have any
amount of it at hand already. As long
as the packers control the market, just
so long will they continue to furnish the
evidence that the government is after"
The President is pleased with the
decision of the United States Supreme
Court in the beef trust case aud does not
hesitate to speak of it in enthusiastic
terms.
Ex-senator William +. Mason, OF
Illinois, was one of the callers at the
White House this morning. eve were
talking about the situation in Missouri"
said Mr.. Mason, "and told the Presi-
dent that the republican party 10 that
State was in good deal the same frame
of mind as the brother, who after being
lett the farm, was sued by the boy who
was cut of in the will. One day the
brother came home from court very much
discouraged aud said to his wife; we
are in pretty bad straits, my dear. For
four years we have been defending our
title to this farm from that rascally brother
of mine, and now we are just about dead
broke. Every cent that we have taken
out of the place has gone for lawyers
fees and costs; all our horses are gone;
all our cattle and hogs have been sold;
the corn is pretty low in the bin, and the
bottom of the pork barrel is all that you
can find in the brine. I'm gettin' so
discouraged that | almost wish dad
hadn't died.
As reply TO the message from the
President denouncine the present cor
poration law of the District OF Columbia,
sent to Congress yesterday, the Senate
today passed without amendment to
House bill increasing the corporation |
fees from 81 a charter, TO forty cents on
each thousand dollars OF capital stock,
and giving the Recorder of Deeds dis
erection to refuse any application for
charter where he is not satisfied that
the capital stock has been subscribed in
good faith. MIR. Gallinger, chairman of
the District committee, announced that
the lawyers of the Senate were now con-
sideriDg the suggestion of the President