Evening journal., 1919-12-19
PACKERS in MEAT
BUSINESSONLY
Enjoined From Engaging in
.Stockyards Business and
Unrelated Activities
ANTITRUST SUITS
FINALLY SETTLED

WASHINGTON. Dec. i9-The five bis
+. Chicago packers will dispose Of all In
y terests controlled by them except those
directly allied with meat packing, un-
der an agreement reached with The De-
partment Of Justice for the settlement
OF the antitrust suits against them.
All stockysrds owned by the packers
will be sold under the approval Of a
United States court to whoever desires
10 purchase them.
The packers will be-ensolned forever
. from engaging in the stock yards busi-
] ness. in the ownership Of stock yard
terminals, market newspapers. cold
storage warehouses. the retail meat
business. and all unrelated activities
under the agreement announced late
yesterday by Attorney Gen1ral Palmer.
The decree will prevent the use OF
transportation facilities of the packers
for any purpose except the meat busi-
ness.
Government officials regard the de-
cree as so complete that II will remove
permanently any danger Of the packers
m0nopolizing the dinner table OF the
average American. inasmuch as the
packers will be forced TO retire from
their dominion Of the markets and
transportation systems.
Senators Kenyon, Republican. Iowa,
and kendrick, Democrat, Wyoming, in
statements issued Immediately after the
Attorney Generals announcement, said
the agreement would not preclude en-
actm'nt by Congress Of bin introduced
by them and now befOOre the Senate
a 20
government regulation of the meat
packing industry.
The terms Of the settlement" said
Senator Kendrick. ARE in agreement
with the fundamental principles Of the
bin which have been introduced by
senator Kenyon and myself This does
act mean. however, the abandonment
Of efforts to secure legislation The at
torney generals victory Is merely a
step. though a very long one. toward
lh goal we have been seeking to at
tain"
"The arrangement made by Attorney
General Palmer" said Senator Kenyon.
eliminates the necessity OF some pro-
visions OF the Kenyon and Kendrlck
bills. IlOwev r. there remains certain
fundamental propositions that must be
met and are met by said bills The con
troll of the larger lines OF unrelated
business by the packers is apparent by
the agreed decree.
1T Is evident" he continued, "that
they were building the greatest mo-
nopoly the country has ever known.
The government should maintain over
them the control provided by the bills
now pending"
Under the decree the packers also
must retire from their large canning
businesses, which included valuable
properties on the Pacific coast for the
canning OF nsh. vegetables and fruit.
Two years Is the fnal limit given
for Tho packers 10 dispose Of their out
side interests.
0vertures for the settlement OF the
cases out OF court, Mr.. Palmer said.
were made by the packers. who sent
word that they would Ike to present
their side Of the case. Mr. Palmer re-
piled that he could not be dlssuaded
from prosecuting the charges. but that
II they desired to virtually surrender"
to put the new spirit OF American inter-
est in their business, he would be glad
to talk over the matter with them.
Mr.. Palmer said he dealt with some
Of the head men OF the big concerns as
a business proposition, rather than