Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-23
PACKERS CONFER As
E:I.IININARY step IN
| DIoSOLUTION PLANS

CHICAGO, Ill.-Heads of the
great packing houses are confer
ring with their assistants and adj
visers to lay plans for carrying out
their agreement with the govern
ment to dissolve industries not re-
lated 20 the packing business.
Officials of the big five" pre-
Gicted smooth sailing by the pack
ing business during the dissolution
period, which will extend over two
years.
Thomas E. Wilson, president of
the American Meat Packers in
stitute, declared that "notwithstand-
ing the fact that the proposed de-
crees cause great sacrifice on the
part of the packers, 1 am now ana
have been in sympathy with the
attorney generals position"
Mr.. Wilson pointed out that this
had been evinced by the fact thai
Wilson and company disposed of
their grocery and unrelated lines
some time ago.
we are not now owners OF stock
in so-calied market stock yards" he
said.
THE public has become alarmed
over the extension of the packers
businesses in unrelated food lines
and through the attorney general
packers are yielding to public opin-
on."
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-The fed.
eral trade commission is ready tc
proceed against the packers fol-
more than forty alleged violations
Of the Clayton antitrust act, it was
learned today.
Compromise of the department OF
Justices case against The big five
whereby they agree to abandon trade
in certain side lines within two
years, affects only violation of the
Sherman antitrust law.
Under the Sherman law, it is
proper thaI criminal prosecutions
| shall be instituted by the depart
ment of justice. 1t is these prose
cutions that have been compromised
Under the Clayton law, it is proper
thai civil actions for dissolution OF
alleged trusts shall be instituted by
the federal trade commission. These
prosecutions have not been compro-
missed.
Section seven of the Clayton law
empowers the commission to inves-
tigate unfair and unlawful methods
of competi and to try the offend
ers before a court composed of mem
bers of the commission, which has
power to order the defendants to
cease and desist" from the viola
ton. Enforcement of This order car
be obtained through the federal
courts, providing the judge APP
proves the legality of the commits
sions findings.
Can Dissolve Trust
Under this law the commission
can order a trust dissolved, but OF
course if the trust fights, the case
eventually gets into federal court
The object of the commission in
the present instance is to force dis
solution of the alleged meat trust
itself-noc merely divorce from GER
tain side lines-and to do it as soon
as possible, not giving the packers
two years in which to do it as a
compromise which the justice de
partment provides.
That the commission means tc
drive right ahead. regardless of The
! justice departments action, is indi-
Gated by the following paragraph
| from a letter sent to President Will
son by Commissioners Murdock
Thompson and Colver within an hour
! of Attorney General Palmer's an
| nouncement that he had made ar
agreement with the packers.
Text of Letter
This letter said:
I'VE should say to you that in this
| examination (of the meat 'trust')
| the commission has brought out GER
| tain facts having to do with the laws
| the administration of which it is
particularly charged. In a number
| of business matters formal proceed
! ings have already been instituted
| In others, formal proceedings are If
| process of formation. These things
| the commission will carry forward
| in due course and in the orderly
| prosecution of it's work"
The facts the commission refers
| to are the papers and evidence i
| gathered for use against the "his
| five" These contained proof Of al
| legged violations of the Sherman ant
| Clayton acts. Evidence showing VIC
lation of the Sherman law was turn
ed over to Mr.. Palmer and tina
| showing violation of the Clayton
act, was taken up by the commits
sion.
1.-The formal proceedings in proc
ess of formation" the commissio,
refers to are twenty cases now pend
| ing before it. Hearings of severa
of the cases already instituted wer
scheduled to start January u, bu
; r. is not expected they will get un