The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-12-19
Must Dispose of All Interests
Except Those Directly Allied
With Meat Packing.
SETTLES ANTITRUST SUITS
Injunction Decree Will Be Filed
in Federal Courts to Make
Agreement Binding

Washington Dec. 1s.-The five big
| rbjcago packers will dispose of all the
1 interests controlled by them except
L nose directly allied with meat pack
/ og under an agreement reached with
he department of justice today for
l sattlement of antitrust suits against
them.
! The injunction decree to which the
packers acceded will be entered in the
4 federal courts to make the agreement
binding. Under it's terms, Swift,
Armour. Morris, Wilson and Cudahy
nave agreed to sell under the supervi-
son of the United States district court
. al their holdings in public stockyards
Al Of their interests in stockyard
. railroads and terminals and all their
interests in market newspapers Dis
pose of all their main public cold stor-
age warehouses except those necessary
| for their own meat products and for
ever disassociate themselves with the
retail meat business and all ''unre-
ated' lines of which the list given
ranges from wholesale groceries and
soda fountain supplies to furniture
Attorney General Palmer said the
decree prevents the defendants from
exercising any further control over the
marketing of livestock"
Senator Kendrick of Wyoming
author of one of the measures to reg
glate the packing industry said the
decree is the most telling blow yet
delivered against the high cost of
living. He declared the government
should maintain control over the pack
ars as provided by pending bills in
asmuch as ''it is evident they were
building the greatest monopoly the
country has ever Known
Palmer also declared it prevents the
. packers from exercising any control
over retailing of meat products and
| eliminates them from the field Of meat
substitutes except eggs butter poultry
and cheese which are left for future
consideration and established the
principles that no group OF men no
matter how POWERFUL can ever attempt
1 % control the food table of the Ameri-
/ can people"
The packers also agreed to forever
abandon the use of their distribution
system except for their own products
| and submit to the injunction against
| attempting to monopolize food pro-
ducts. The attorney for Swift said the
step was taken to avoid antogonizing
The government and remove causes in
friction. He declared emphatically
that it did not mean admission of vio-
alton of the law. Attorney for Nor
is said it was done in q spirit Of
rue Americanism.
We gave up certain legal rights.
made certain business sacrifices in
tFder to meet the views of the gov
5Tment," attorney for Morris said.
and TO forever set at rest the fear-of
monopoly of the American table by
Packers. In this period of reconstruct
on and unrest we desired to promote
confidence and cooperation to stable
conditions"
Palmer said the compromise which
affects eighty seven corporations and
forty nine individuals is the result of
oFertures from packers after the gov
ernment placed evidence before the
grand jury in Chicago. The packers
nave two years to comply.
Senator Kenyon and Hendricks said
.helr bills to regulate packers will not
3e abandoned. Government suits
against packers were begun at the
Presidents direction last summer as
part Of the fight on the high cost of
living.
Chicago Dec. 1S.-A dozen or more
important sideline industries of the
lhlcago meat packers involving in
'eStmcnts Of many millions of dollars
sli he disposed of under the stipulated
lecree soon to be entered in the United
states court at Washington on motion
u Attorney General Palmer.
among the lines of business from
N.'ch the packers will be ordered to
~-lha5aw under the stipulated court
aeE'ee are the following:
11ealRer canned fruits and vegetables
sgap Cleansing powders groceries fer
'~AsTS cold storage fish refrigerator
mes cereals glue sporting goods
A'4 tae control of stock yards.
swift & Co. already has segregated
- south american and Australian
-.-@I business; its fruit and vegetable
sI'''hg Industry and its manufacture
rather Wilson & Co. recently dis
sSsu OF It's wholesale grocery lines to
New York firm.