The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-21
PACKERS IN TRUST
Attorney General Jackson Pre-
pairing a Big Suit.
Will Proceed Against Concerns
i'm Kansas City.
HIGH PRICE OF BEEF.
Charges That 1t Is Largely Due
to Agreement.
Will Be Commenced Under the
New Law.

Attorney General Jackson is pre-
pairing to go after the big packing
firms of Kansas City, Kan, under the
provisions of the antitrust law. The
suit when fled will be similar to the
one brought this week against the To-
peka Fruit & Produce Exchange. In
this action it will be alleged that these
big packing concerns have formed a
combination to control the. prices of
their products in the markets of the
state, all in violation of the states
antitrust law.
At the last session of the legislature
the antitrust law was amended in
such fashion that the state can,
through the district court. take over
the control of a corporation which dis
obeys the law. On petition of the at
torney general, supported by sufficient
evidence, a receiver can be appointed
for such corporation.- The old officers
can be thrown out and the court can
call the stockholders together for the
purpose of electing new officers. After
the abuses perpetrated by such a cor
poration have been corrected and all
fines that may have been imposed
shall have been paid, then the man
agement of the corporation can be
turned over by the state to the officials
elected by the stockholders.
This law was made to order by the
attorney generals Office last winter as
a most effective weapon with which
to get quick and sure results in fighting
disobedient corporations. If Mr.. Jack
son brings the suit under this law and
forces the fight to finish he will be
pretty sure to have the packers seeing
things at night. 1t is possible before
this suit has ncen finished that some
of the biggest Lacking house concerns
in the state will be in the hands of
receiver under state control.
Those Who Are Hit
The Swifts. Armour & Co.. Schwartz
child & Sulzberger, and Morris, West &
Co., are among the biggest concerns in
Kansas City. Kan 1t is likely that all
of these will be included in the anti
trust suits. The law provides for a fine
of 500 per day for each concern con-
victed of violation of the antitrust
statutes.
Only last week United States Senator
Crawford and Secretary Nagel of the
department of commerce, both repre-
senting the national government, start
ed the most sweeping investigation of
the methods of the alleged beef trust
and its relation to the greatly increased
cost of living. The recent agitation in
Chicago resulted in a report that the
beef trust enjoyed a net profit of 81 per
cent as the alleged result of an alleged
combination of prices among producers
and dealers in packing products.
nv I10SOlll ohy llISl pIlNSS VI oil lllC
products of the packing industry have
caused the people, the consumers, to sit
up and take notice. and further, to de-
mand relief. With pork and beef and
lard selling at 20 cents per pound, and
even higher it is surely time that the
brakes were applied, even if the state
has to take drastic measures.
These will be the first antitrust
suits brought in this state against
corporations that deal in necessities
and they are of tremendous import
ance and should bring sweeping re-
suits. The cost of living has come to
be a problem for the wage Garner and
if there is any manipulation of the
prices Of such a necessity as meat
there will be g. most emphatic demand
that a remedy be found therefor and
applied vigorously.
1t is certain that the new powers
given the attorney general by the last
Legislature make it possible for him
to conduct the most sweeping investi-
cation of the methods and business of
the big packers of this state. Mr..
Jackson is now about ready to start
the wheels of the law turning round
in this direction. The antitrust suits
against the Standard Oil and the In
ternational Harvester companies will
be pale affairs in comparison with
this attack on the men who are al
legged to have control of a great and
staple food product. which is now SELL
ing for double the prices of a few