Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1912-03-27


trade in violation OF the criminal
provisions OF the Sherman antitrust
law which began December 6, is
the closing chapter of a long legal
battle waged by the government
against the big packers.
The heads Of the packing com.
panies in the proceedings are named
as individual defendants and a YER
dict of guilty under the law would
make them liable TO either a fine Of
$4,000 each, or Imprisonment for ono
year or both penalties.
The ten defendants are:
J. Ogden Armour, president Ar
mour and company.
Arthur Mecker, director and gen
eral manager Armour and company.
Thomas ]. Connors, director and
general superintendent Armour and
company.
Louis +. Swift, president Swift
and company.
Edward +. Swift, vice president
Swift and company.
Charles II. Swift, director Swift
and company
Francis A. Fowler, manager beef
department, Swift and company.
Edward Morris, president Morris
and company.
Louis II. Heyman. manager beef
department. Morris and company.
Edward Tilden. president National
Packing company.
The government contends:
That prior to 1902 prices were
fixed, shipments regulated and terri
tory divided by the old beef pool
which met every Tuesday afternoon.
That after the old beef pool dis
solved in 1902 the packers held
secret meetings at each Others
homes
That the National Packing com
pany since its organization in 1908
has been used as the clearing
house" for the alleged combination.
That the packers adopted "a test
cost and margin system which was
used in the purchase Of cattle and
the sale of fresh meat
That the allowances made for by
products in figuring the test cost
were inadequate and the Cost"
used by the packers was fictitious
and higher than the actual cost.
That the representatives Of the
different companies in New York.
Boston and other eastern cities ex-
changed information in regard 20
prices and shipments and telegraph
ed the figures 10 their superiors in
Chicago.
That the violation OF the Sherman
law by the packers has been contin
uous and practically uninterrupted
since 1893
A chronological history of the gov
ernments investigation and prosecu-
ton OF the men alleged TO control
the fresh meat industry of the coun-
try is as follows:
July |, lo03-Injunction issued by
Judge Grosscup restraining the pack
ers from entering into combina-
ton.
Feb. 20, INSTRUMENTATION OF al
legged combination begun.
July /, i90s-Sixteen packers and
four corporations indicted.
Dec. 81, Possesses called for
trial
March Fl, loo6-Judge Humphreys
renders the immunity bath" deci-
sion, freeing the indicted packers.
Dec 20. Decentralization taken
up by federal grand jury but soon
discontinued without indictments be
ing returned
Dec. Is, lo0o--Investigation re
sumed by the federal grand jury
March p, Embellishments re
turned against the National pack
ing company and ten subsidiary con
Germs and bill in equity filed asking
that the National Packing company
be dissolved.
june "a, Embellishments against
the National Packing company
quashed by Judge Lands and a
special grand jury called to renew
the investigation.
July IA. l9l0-Special grand jury
limpanelled and inquiry begun.
Aug II, i9l0-Thomas G Lee,
manager OF the dressed beef sales
department. of Armour and company
indicted for perjury and Alfred X.
Urion, chief counsel for the com
pany and three employees charged
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