Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-01-26
PROTESTING IT'S INNOCENCE
AGAIN.

All eyes are now turned to Chicago
where the eminent counsel of the meat
packing trust and the representatives
of the legal department Of the Federal
government are preparing for a battle
royal in the courts. The attorneys for
the quartet of great packing houses
make a public declaration that there
has been no violation of the1statutes,
that prices of cattle on the hoof have
not been arbitrarily fixed by a COM
bine, that the number of animals
slaughtered has not been held in check
in order to maintain ffctitiously high
values for the products of the packing
housl :. and that the existing prices
are entirely due TO natural causes for
which those whose indictment the gov
eminent is seeking are in nowise re-
sponsible.
This may be so, but until it has been
demonstrated beyond the shadow of a
doubt that no "gentlemen's agree
ments, or secret understanding or
open arrangements, have existed be-
tween the packers to control supplies
and regulate market prices the con
suming world can be set down as hail
ing from Missouri. It has heard loud
protestations of innocence from the
packers before, only to see them prov
ed guilty by iudtsputable evidence. Elk
perience has taught the public that no
reliance is to be put upon statements
emanating from the packers or their
legal representatives. Concerns that
wilfully canned diseased meats and for
many years perpetuated the most re-
voting unsanitary conditions about
their plants are not apt to be troubled
by any scruples of conscience when il
becomes necessary to again deceive
the people or mislead the government
Three courses are open to the gov
eminent in it's new attack on the Beef
Trust One is indictment and trial of
the officials of the companies on the
criminal charge Of violating the sher-
man law relating to conspiracies in re-
straint Of trade. Punishment in this
case, on verdict of guilty, would be a
fine of $4,000, or Imprisonment for
not longer than a year
The second is the bringing Of a civil
suit for the dissolution of the National
Packing Company. on the grounds that
it is clearing house for the transac-
ton Of the business of an Illegal COM
bination
The third is contempt proceedings,
alleging violation of the permanent in
junction issued by Judge Peter s.
Grosscup. seven years ago, against a
continuance of illegal trade practices
charged up against the packers at that
time. This Injunction expressly for
babe the establishing Of arbitrary
prices, division of territory, black list
ing and any sort Of method of combin-
ing to restrain trade, destroy competi-
ton and create a monopoly in meat
products.
Although the government attorneys
have not disclosed the nature Of the
evidence they have, or exactly what
their line OF procedure is to be, it is
believed the documents now in the
possession of the Department of JUS
tice, together with evidence gathered
by agents, will furnish the ground
work for the attack and that the Ma
tional Packing Company will be direct
" assailed. The four concerns against
which the attack is aimed are trans
actin an annual business in excess OF
$700,000,00o. That the price of meat
to the consumer has increased out Of
proportion to the price paid to the