Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-25

Washington. Dec. 1s.-The govern
ments antitrust suit against the
great meat packers, begun at Presi-
dent Wilson's direction last summer
as part of the fight on the high cost
of living has been compromised under
an agreement by which the packers
will confne themselves hereafter to
the meat and provision business.
An injunction decree to which the
packers have acceded will be entered
in the federal court to make the agree
ment binding Under it's terms. the big
five-Swift. Armour. Norris, Wilson
Cudahy-have agreed:
To sell under supervision of the
United States district court preferably
to the livestock producers and the pub
lie, all their holdings in public stock
yards.
To SELL under the same supervision
and in like manner. all their interests
in stockyard railroads and terminals.
To sell under the same supervision
and in like manner all their interests
in market newspapers.
Dispose of all their interest in pub
lie cold storage warehouses except as
necessary for their own meat products
To forever dissociate themselves with
the retail meat business.
To forever dssociate themselves with
all unrelated lines" including whole
sale groceries, fresh canned, dried or salt
fish. fresh dried or canned vegetables,
fresh, crushed. dried, evaporated or
canned fruits, confectioneries. syrups,
soda water fountains supplies. etc,
molasses, honey. jams. jellies and pre-
serves. ices. sauces, relishes, etc, cof-
foo tao oh n1ota
| sugar, rice and cereals with an excep-
ton to be noted. bread. waters. crackers
| biscuits. spaghetti. vermicelli, macaroni
cigars, china. furniture. etc.
To forever abandon the use of the
branch houses. route cars and automo-
bile trucks. comprising their distribution
| system. for any other than their own
meat and dairy products.
To perpetually submit to the jurisdiction
| of the United States district courts I'M
der an Injunction forbidding all the de-
PENDANTS from directly or indirectly
maintaining any combination or conspir-
acy with each other or any other person
| or persons, or monopolizing or attempt
| ing to monopolize any food products. in
the United States, or INDUCING in any
unfair and unlawful practice.
| The decree further provides the jurs-
| diction perpetualy retained by the
courts for the purpose of taking such
other action or adding at the foot of the
decree such other relief. if any. that may
become necessary or appropriate for the
carrying out and enforcement of the de-
cree or for the purpose of entertaining
at any time hereafter in the application
which the parties may make with respect
to this decree.
Two years are given to comply with
the decree which affects 81 corpora lions
and 40 individuals.
| In general" said Attorney General
Palmers official announcement tonight,
this decree prevents the defendants from
exercising any further control over the
marketing of livestock. It forever pre-
vents them from any control over the
retailing OF meat products. 1t eliminates
them from the field of meat substitutes,
with exception Of eggs, butter. poultry.
and cheese, which are left for future
consideration and appropriate action: and.
therefore the price of meat is within the
control of the people themselves. 1t places