New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-13

roderal Grand Jury Accuses J.
0oden Armour. L. F. Swift.
Fdward Morris and Others.
EACH CHARGED THREE TIMES
r--a Bills Are for Combination
n Restraint of Trade, Con
spiracy and Monopoly by
Unlawful Means.


t,,sfness Of Chicago packers late to-day
-s,----,ed indictments against ten high
,4=-a.s Of he Swifth. Armour. Morris
I'D National companies There are
49, indictments against each defend
ar-
re men indicted are I. 2 Swift.
--ssi5zrr- Edward Swift. vice president
s,5 Charles H Swift and Francis A.
--,r.l.- directors Of Swift & Co: Ed
va-5 Ttl5en. president Of the National
Packing Company ] Ogden Armour.
--ss45er-. Arthur Neeker. general man
.-s- and Thomas J. Corners. superin-
.sr5er- Il Armour & Co; Edward Nor
- president ard Louis H Heyman,
manager II Morris & Co.
--re &-s- Indictment IN detail charges
I'll The defendants with engaging in a
continuation n restraint Of interstate
--aie in fresh meats
The second charges conspiracy
TIE third charges the defendants with
--oropolizfnE the trade in fresh meats
bv unlawful means
Aimed a. individuals.
That the purpose Of the grand jury in
c-t-- was the indictment Of individuals
rather than Of packing corporations vas
clown whe- Judge Kenesaw NJ Lands,
y-bo imposed the 500 ono. eco STANDARD
OIL fne. instructed the investigators
IT sometimes happens that a person
about u violate the law takes name
orber than his own said Judge Lands
oh
---5e--s king n counterfeit gold dollars.
changes his name 10 John Smith or the
Metals Fab--ca1ing Company. and under
rat name does the thing forbidden by
law = your investigation disclosed
src- case do not indict mere alias.
but follow Tie trail wherever It may lead
,--t1 YOU have found. identified and
rri--ed out The real offenders"
Details OF indictments.
re Indictment charging the Ten pack
.-r GERMANY officers with engaging in a
elimination N restraint Of trade de
r1s-es that tia object Of the agreement
K 1-e elimination If competition among
~ Swift the Armour and the Morris
g-rruE Of defendants in the purchase of
i've cattle sheep and hogs. and also II
ne sale If fresh meats throughout the
United States
TIE Indictment further declares that
re method adopted for 50 doing was
frs 70 refrain from bidding up the
prices r livestock. and then 10 agree on
uniform system Of figuring the cost
u meats sent 70 branch houses This
resulted II the placing OF an excessive
r-ice on meat
The next step. says the indictment.
vas u force managers OF branch houses
70 obtain this price # any margin less
t1sn tie price vas permitted. Il was one
agreed on dy al OF the defendants
The Indictment also charges that the
Swift. the Armour and the Morris inter
ests held stock II the National Packing
Company in proportions equal 10 the
rare c- business done by the three
houses The Offices Of the National com
ranr. II is also stated. We're used as a
convenient place OF meeting
The second indictment Is virtually the
same as the first. except that conspiracy.
instead of q combination II restraint Of
trade. IS charged.
The -hi-d Indictment charges that the
Packers have ronopolized the trade in
tresh meats by me following means:
BY "a continuation OF eliminating com
petition IN inc purchases Of cattle and
II tE= sale ~ meats.
p eanduCtfrg the business Of the Ma
a"1a- Packing Coupan. itself II har-
IRONY H-r- -le business Of The Swift,
armour and Morris interests
- removing the New York Butchers
and Dressed Meat Association from the
len NJ competition by purchasing stock
n thar concern from time 10 time until
control ~ il Was obtained.
Listed IN the Indictment are the cities
ard towns where the Chicago packing
companies maintain branch houses Tho
number ri these places follow Swift K
Co %. Armour q. Co. ZIG. and Morris
Z Co -
Is eacn concern has several branches
II number Of the larger cities the TO-
a number of branch houses Is: Swift
d Co. s28- Armour & Co 81. and Nor
rs Z Co.. l93.
Armour IN Packers Profits
~ tsf-en Armour, head Of armour *
20. one OF the packers indicted, issued
LIE following statement tonight
deeply regret tho bringing OF these
-----lr tl1leI-s- Tor the charges are uT-
-'---4e1- - ~iU be shown when the
''+s come u Trial The true facts viii
ri- BE- made known. AIisUnderstand-
g and pTejGdICeS have been the basis
~ llese attacks They can now ana
.-- |- removed
he present charges involve four pack
- concerns 5uI OF nine hundred that
Or engaged IN interstate packing bust
7ss ID tl- United states. The defend
-5 Co only about one-thIrd Of the
- - EiI-s business Of the entire country
mar entire profits are not over ~ per
50 ~ their total business This mar
- ~ profit Is Jess than that made by
9--s other manufacturing business in the
~fl Vt we are attacked and as
e---1 az all times and from all quarters.
i l--s small margin u profit can be
0-e only by The srrictes1 economy IN
lJ-iZaunn II every. possible by
--'ilct- feel that or business ought
'T lostered and encouraged by the
---te country rather than be constantly
assalled
ne fact tl8T the business has been
l-4-cted with the very srna Hest mar
- 81 profit is itself 4 demonstration
a no com bination 10 depress the cost
. livestock or 10 increase the prices Of
80 meats could have been possible
i-54clce mas arisen in the minds u
1iif on account Of the higher cost 70
consumer Of pork and beef prod
- These higher prices are wholly